Low pressure passed by to the south while high pressure to north pumped in cold air. Precipitation associated with the low fell in the form of snow across central Virginia.
Every event with a place to put it; 14 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.
Low pressure passed by to the south while high pressure to north pumped in cold air. Precipitation associated with the low fell in the form of snow across central Virginia.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Baltimore/Washington wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 19, 10:08 AM EST, 52 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1008 AM EST SUN FEB 19 2012
.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE ALONG THE GULF COAST WILL EMERGE OFF THE CAROLINAS
TONIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE MID ATLANTIC
MONDAY. LOW PRESSURE WILL CROSS THE GREAT LAKES LATE TUESDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
MID LEVEL CLOUD DECK HAS INTRUDED UPON THE CWA FOR A CLOUDY SKY
BUT PER 12Z KIAD RAOB THE LOW LEVELS REMAIN RELATIVELY DRY. ECHOES
ON RADAR STREAMING UP INTO NORTHERN VIRGINIA ARE LIKELY ONLY VIRGA
WITH NO GROUND TRUTH OF PRECIP REACHING THE GROUND OUT OF BKN-
OVC100.
12Z NAM IS IN...AND CONTINUES TO HIGHLIGHT THE SOUTHWARD
SUPPRESSION OF QPF RELATIVE TO OUR CWA FOR THIS EVENT...NO QPF
MAKING IT NORTH OF INTERSTATE 66 AS A SHORTWAVE MOVES EAST THROUGH
THE CAROLINAS. BEST FORCING WHICH LINES UP WITH HIGHEST QPF
REMAINS ACROSS SOUTHWEST CWA WHERE A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN
EFFECT. AFTER LOW LEVELS MOISTEN UP OVER THE NEXT FEW
HOURS...EXPECT A RAIN/SNOW MIX TO DEVELOP AND THEN CHANGE OVER TO
SNOW...PAVING THE WAY FOR A PERIOD OF SNOW LATER THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING.
WINTER HEADLINES WILL REMAIN AS IS FOR ADVISORY LEVEL
ACCUMULATIONS IN THIS AREA.
GIVEN THE TIGHT GRADIENT OF PRECIP...DON/T EXPECT A WHOLE LOT
NORTH OF HERE. WILL KEEP CHANCE POPS FOR SNOW GOING UP TO ABOUT
INTERSTATE 66...FOR LITTLE OR NO ACCUMULATION. WILL HAVE TO WATCH
LOWER SOUTHERN MARYLAND THIS EVENING AS THERE COULD BE A LITTLE
ENHANCEMENT IN QPF DOWN THERE...BUT FORECAST IS UP TO 1 INCH FOR
NOW WHICH IS UNDER ADVISORY.
NLY WINDS INCR TNGT AS LOPRES STRENGTHENS OVR GULF STREAM AND
DEPARTS INTO N ATLC. TEMPS SHUD FALL AOB FRZG MOST
LOCATIONS...WITH CLOUDS SLOW TO CLEAR.
&&
.SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
HIPRES RDG SFC-H5 BLDG ACRS CWFA MON-MON NGT. NWLY FLOW SHUD SCOUR
OUT CLDS RATHER QUICKLY MON MRNG...W/ SUNNY SKIES THE REST OF THE
DAY...AND MOCLR SKIES MON NGT. W/ THE RDG OHD MON NGT...IT/LL SET
UP FVRBL RADL COOLING CONDS MON NGT. TOOK MOS MEAN FOR MAXT MON...
UNDERCUTTING A LTL ACRS CENTRL VA TO ALLW FOR A THIN SNWPACK TO MELT
OFF...THEN UNDERCUT EVERYWHERE FOR MIN-T MON NGT DUE TO RADL EFFECTS.
WK LOPRES/UPA DISTURBANCE GLIDING ACRS THE PLAINS ELY TUE WL TRACK
ACRS THE GRTLKS. CWFA WL BE W/IN SLY FLOW/WAA REGIME BY THEN. GDNC
INITIATING H8 JETMAX--GFS 50 KT VS NAM 40-45 KT. THAT/LL SUPPORT
MSTR RTN. SEEMS REASONABLE THAT ASSOCD LIFT MAY SQUEEZE OUT A LTL
PCPN. HV INCRSD POPS TO CHC TUE AFTN...MAINLY W OF BLURDG....BUT DID
ACCOMODATE SCHC TO I-95 CRRDR LT. MDL DIFFS GNLY NEGLIGIBLE IN MAXT
FIELD...XCPT FOR W99. SOUGHT MIDDLE GRND.
&&
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
NMRS PIECES OF S/WV ENERGY CARVE OUT A BROAD L/WV TROF XTNDG ACRS
MOST OF THE CONUS E OF THE ROCKIES FOR THE REST OF THE WK. PROBLEM
IS...THAT MAKES IT QUITE DIFFICULT TO PIN DOWN DETAILS OF WHERE CHC
POPS SHUD/SHUDNT BE. NEEDED TO ADD POPS TUE NGT TO ALLOW S/WV
ENTERING PICTURE TUE TO CARRY MSTR THRU CWFA. TUE TEMP DIFFS MAGNIFY
TUE NGT. SINCE COLD AIR LACKING...HV KEPT TEMPS WARM ENUF FOR JUST
RA OUTSIDE OF APPALACHIANS/PTMC HIGHLANDS. HV HELD OFF ON MAKING
CHGS BYD THAT.
&&
.AVIATION /15Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
EXPECT RA/SN TO DEVELOP AT CHO EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...CHANGING TO
SNOW FOR IFR RESTRICTIONS THIS AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...HAVE LOW
CONFIDENCE IN FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS IN PRECIP MAKING IT NORTH TO
THE HUBS. LATEST GUIDANCE SHOWS THE TIGHT GRADIENT BUT KEEPS
PRECIP JUST SOUTH OF THE HUBS SO MAY STAY WITH VFR FOR NOW.
HIGH CONFIDENCE VFR MON-TUE. CONFIDENCE LWRS A BIT FOR REST OF WEEK
AS WEAK DISTURBANCE OFFER CHCS OF LGT PCPN. ANY FLGT RESTRICTIONS
WUD BE LMTD AND BRIEF...NO WORSE THAN MVFR.
&&
.MARINE...
SCA THRU 14Z WAS ALLOWED TO EXPIRE WITH RELAXING NORTHERLY SURGE.
LULL WILL LIKELY BE BRIEF BEFORE WINDS INCREASE BACK INTO SCA
RANGE LATER ON TODAY. ADZY IN EFFECT ALL ZONES THIS EVE AND TNGT
AS 20-25 KTS...PSBLY NEARING GALE...GUSTS ARE FCST.
AS LOPRES DEPARTS AREA MON MRNG...MOMENTUM TRANSFER STILL APPEARS
FVRBL FOR SCA WNDS ON THE BAY/LWR PTMC. BLDG HIPRES WL REDUCE WNDS
THRUT THE DAY FM NW TO SE. HV XTNDD SCA INTO MON FOR AFOREMENTIONED
AREAS.
MON NGT WL BE QUIET W/ HIPRES OHD. SLY 40-50 KT H8 JET CROSSES TUE.
WHILE MIXING WONT BE FAVORED...THE SHEAR MAGNITUDE OF WND MAY BRING
A MARGINAL EVENT TUE AFTN-ELY EVNG.
&&
.EQUIPMENT...
STERLING 88D WL BE OUT OF SERVICE THRU FRI FEB 24 DUE TO UPGRADE
TO DUAL POL TECHNOLOGY. SEE PNSLWX FOR MORE INFORMATION.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...NONE.
MD...NONE.
VA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 AM EST MONDAY FOR VAZ025-026-
036>038-503-504.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM EST
MONDAY FOR VAZ050-056.
WV...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 AM EST MONDAY FOR WVZ505-506.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM EST
MONDAY FOR ANZ530>534-537>543.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 AM EST
MONDAY FOR ANZ535-536.
&&
SYNOPSIS...SBK/HTS
NEAR TERM...BPP/SBK
SHORT TERM...HTS
LONG TERM...HTS
AVIATION...BPP/SBK/HTS
MARINE...BPP/SBK/HTS
EQUIPMENT...HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 911 AM EST SUN FEB 19 2012 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ006-007-011-013-014-016>018-VAZ052>057- 201000- CHESAPEAKE BAY NORTH OF POOLES ISLAND MD- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM POOLES ISLAND TO SANDY POINT MD- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM SANDY POINT TO NORTH BEACH MD- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM NORTH BEACH TO DRUM POINT MD- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM DRUM POINT MD TO SMITH POINT VA- TIDAL POTOMAC FROM KEY BRIDGE TO INDIAN HEAD MD- TIDAL POTOMAC FROM INDIAN HEAD TO COBB ISLAND MD- TIDAL POTOMAC FROM COBB ISLAND MD TO SMITH POINT VA- PATAPSCO RIVER INCLUDING BALTIMORE HARBOR- CHESTER RIVER TO QUEENSTOWN MD-EASTERN BAY- CHOPTANK RIVER TO CAMBRIDGE MD AND THE LITTLE CHOPTANK RIVER- PATUXENT RIVER TO BROOMES ISLAND MD- TANGIER SOUND AND THE INLAND WATERS SURROUNDING BLOODSWORTH ISLAND-DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-NORTHERN BALTIMORE-HARFORD- SOUTHERN BALTIMORE-PRINCE GEORGES-ANNE ARUNDEL-CHARLES-ST. MARYS- CALVERT-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK-FAIRFAX- ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-STAFFORD-SPOTSYLVANIA- KING GEORGE- 911 AM EST SUN FEB 19 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MARYLAND PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER...AND ADJACENT COUNTIES IN CENTRAL MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT LIGHT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM THE CENTRAL VIRGINIA PIEDMONT EAST INTO LOWER SOUTHERN MARYLAND. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY FROM 1PM THROUGH 1AM WHERE 1 TO 2 INCHES IS EXPECTED. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE MARYLAND PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER BEGINNING AT 4PM TODAY...CONTINUING THROUGH TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 4PM MONDAY FOR THE MARYLAND PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND LOWER TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES MAY BE REQUIRED FOR A PORTION OF THE MARINE AREA TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER... SNOWFALL REPORTS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. MDZ003>005-009-010-501-502-VAZ025>031-036>040-042-050-051-501>504- WVZ050>053-055-501>506-201000- WASHINGTON-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL-MONTGOMERY-HOWARD- EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY-CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY-AUGUSTA- ROCKINGHAM-SHENANDOAH-FREDERICK VA-PAGE-WARREN-CLARKE-NELSON- ALBEMARLE-GREENE-MADISON-RAPPAHANNOCK-LOUDOUN-ORANGE-CULPEPER- NORTHERN FAUQUIER-SOUTHERN FAUQUIER-WESTERN HIGHLAND- EASTERN HIGHLAND-HAMPSHIRE-MORGAN-BERKELEY-JEFFERSON-HARDY- WESTERN GRANT-EASTERN GRANT-WESTERN MINERAL-EASTERN MINERAL- WESTERN PENDLETON-EASTERN PENDLETON- 911 AM EST SUN FEB 19 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA... NORTHERN AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA...AND CENTRAL AND WESTERN MARYLAND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GARRETT COUNTY. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM MID MORNING TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT FOR MOST OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND PENDLETON COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA. THIS WILL BE AN ELEVATION DEPENDENT SNOWFALL...WITH TOTALS RANGING FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES AT LOWER ELEVATIONS TO 4 INCHES AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...SNOWFALL REPORTS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 winter weather, 5 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The heaviest snow fell across the southeastern portion of Rockingham County. Snowfall totaled up to 7.0 inches near Grottoes and 5.0 inches near McGaheysville.
Little snowfall fell across the northern portion of the county.
Snowfall totaled up to 2.5 inches near Vanderpool.
Snowfall totaled up to 1.8 inches about three miles east of Dunavant.
Snowfall totaled up to 6.0 inches at Earlysville and also near Advance Mills. A snowfall report of 5.5 inches was received from Charlottesville.
Snowfall totaled up to 5.2 inches near Ruckersville.
Snowfall totaled up to 7.5 inches near Barboursville.
Snowfall totaled up to 10 inches near Greenville and 9.5 inches at Fishersville.
Snowfall totaled up to 6.5 inches near Elma.
Snowfall totaled up to 1.0 inch at Luray. Snowfall amounts in excess of 2 inches were estimated across the southern portion of the county.
Snowfall totaled up to 3.1 inches near Madison and 4.0 inches near Dawsonville.
Snowfall totaled up to 2.0 inches near Winston.
Snowfall totaled up to 3.5 inches in Lois and 2.0 inches near Remington.
A snowfall report of 2.0 inches was reported near Roseville.
Snowfall totaled up to 2.1 inches at King George.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, February 2012
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 366912, 366913, 366914, 366921, 366922, 366923, 404491, 404493, 366915, 366916, 366917, 366918, 366919, 366920.