Low pressure moved up the east coast and approached the Mid Atlantic. High pressure was located across New England and fed cold air into the region.
Every event with a place to put it; 23 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 moved up the east coast and approached the Mid Atlantic. High pressure was located across New England and fed cold air into the region. Heavy snow fell across most parts of the Mid Atlantic with the highest amounts near the Mason Dixon line where mid level forcing led to a heavy band.
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 12, 3:31 PM EST, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
331 PM EST WED FEB 12 2014
.SYNOPSIS...
AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ALONG THE NORTHERN
GULF AND SOUTHEAST COASTS THROUGH THIS EVENING. THE COASTAL LOW
WILL INTENSIFY TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT AS IT TRACKS UP THE
MID-ATLANTIC COAST. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRIEFLY RETURN FRIDAY...BEFORE
A COLD FRONT PASSES THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD
OVERHEAD SATURDAY FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE TROUGH MOVING
THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
LOPRES CONTINUES TO DEVELOP NEAR THE FL PANHANDLE. THIS MILLER-A
LOW WILL TRACK NEWD ALONG THE SOUTHEAST COAST TNGT AND UP THE MID-
ATLANTIC COAST ON THU INTO THU NGT.
MADE ADDITIONAL MINOR CHANGES TO POPS/ONSET TIME OF SNOW THIS
EVE...BUT PREVIOUS FCST SEEMS TO BE IN LINE WITH LATEST GUIDANCE.
SNOW WILL BEGIN DURING THE EVE COMMUTE IN CENTRAL VA AND AFTER RUSH
HOUR (BETWEEN 7-10 PM FROM SOUTH TO NORTH) ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF
THE CWA. IT IS IMPORTANT TO COMMUNICATE THAT ONCE THE SNOW DOES
START...SNOW WILL QUICKLY BECOME MODERATE TO HEAVY WITH ACCUMULATION
RATES OF 1-2 INCHES PER HR POSSIBLE TNGT. TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL
RAPIDLY DETERIORATE AS A RESULT. WIDESPREAD 4-8 INCHES OF SNOWFALL
IS FCST TNGT...WITH THE HIGHEST TOTALS IN THE CENTRAL FOOTHILLS AND
CENTRAL SHENANDOAH VLY.
A COMPARISON OF 12Z/18Z RAOBS TO INITIALIZATION OF THE 12Z MODELS
AND THEIR 6-H FORECASTS INDICATE THE GFS/NAM WERE TOO FLAT WITH THE
LOW-LEVEL THERMAL TROUGH ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE APPALACHIANS AND
DOWNSTREAM THERMAL RIDGE TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST COAST. SATELLITE WATER
VAPOR LOOP INDICATED THE NRN STREAM SHORTWAVE TROUGH WAS ALREADY
CLOSING OVER ERN NE-KS...WHICH WAS EARLIER/FASTER THAN MOST OF THE
12Z GUIDANCE HAD INDICATED. THESE ERRORS PROVIDE EVIDENCE TOWARD A
MORE WESTWARD TRACK OF THE COASTAL LOW...CLOSER TO THE PAST FEW RUNS
OF THE ECMWF. THE LOW TRACKING RIGHT UP THE COASTLINE WOULD SHIFT
THE AXIS OF HEAVIEST SNOWFALL TOWARD THE BLUE RIDGE AND I-81
CORRIDOR...WHERE ISOLATED TOTALS OF UP TO 20 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE AT
THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. FCST SNOWFALL TOTALS WERE INCREASED TO
10-14 INCHES FROM THE FAR WRN SUBURBS OF DC AND BALTIMORE BACK WEST
TO THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS. THIS WESTWARD TRACK WOULD ALSO YIELD MORE
MIXING WITH SLEET/RAIN FOR THE I-95 CORRIDOR. THE TRANSITION IS
EXPECTED TO OCCUR LATE TNGT IN SRN MD AND THU MRNG NEAR I-95. ALL
RAIN OR RAIN/IP MIX EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO THU AFTN FOR THESE
AREAS.
THE LOW IS EXPECTED TO SLOW DOWN AS IT RAPIDLY DEEPENS ON THU AFTN.
THE 12Z ECMWF/NAM SHOWS A WELL-DEFINED TROWAL DEVELOPING...RESULTING
IN A MODERATE TO POTENTIALLY HEAVY SNOW BAND AROUND THE BACKSIDE OF
THE LOW. ACCUMULATING SNOW COULD LINGER INTO THU EVE ACROSS THE SWRN
HALF OF THE CWA AND LATE THU NGT ACROSS THE NERN HALF. WINTER STORM
WARNINGS WERE EXTENDED ACCORDINGLY.
&&
.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
UPPER LEVEL RIDGING WILL ENTER THE MID ATLANTIC FRIDAY RESULTING IN
DRY CONDITIONS. SNOWPACK ON THE GROUND WILL KEEP TEMPS FROM RISING
TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BUT ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE LOW 40S. SOME
MELTING OF SNOW WILL OCCUR AND CAUSE REFREEZE ISSUES FRIDAY NIGHT AS
TEMPS WILL DROP TO THE UPPER 20S. A CLIPPER SYSTEM WILL APPROACH
FROM THE WEST RESULTING IN INCREASED CLOUD COVER FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
SNOW SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE ALLEGHENY FRONT FRIDAY NIGHT. A
FEW INCHES OF ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE IN THIS AREA. AS THE CLIPPER
MOVES EASTWARD A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL FORM ON THE LEE SIDE OF
THE APPALACHIANS ACROSS THE MID ATLANTIC. SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE
POSSIBLE EAST OF THE MTNS EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. THE TROUGH AXIS
ALOFT WILL QUICKLY MOVE THROUGH TOWARDS SUNRISE SATURDAY AND
SUBSIDENCE BEHIND IT WILL RESULT IN LITTLE TO NO ACCUMULATION WITH
THE EXCEPTION OF THE ALLEGHENY FRONT.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION
THROUGH THE FOUR DAY PERIOD. ONE SYSTEM SATURDAY MORNING...ANOTHER
SUNDAY MORNING AND THE THIRD WILL BE MONDAY NIGHT. WHILE THERE COULD
BE A FEW SNOW SHOWERS ACCOMPANYING THE SYSTEM SATURDAY MORNING...THE
SECOND SYSTEM MAY END UP GETTING WASHED OUT IN THE UPPER LEVEL
FLOW...WHILE THE THIRD SYSTEM MONDAY NIGHT SHOULD BRING A CHANCE FOR
RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS.
&&
.AVIATION /21Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
SNOW WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION TONIGHT AND CIGS AND VSBYS WILL DROP
TO IFR/LIFR CONDITIONS TONIGHT. +SN WILL CAUSE VSBYS TO DROP TO 1/4
AT TIMES TONIGHT. SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO COVER THE REGION THURSDAY
MORNING AND SLEET AND RAIN MAY MIX INTO BWI-MTN-DCA THURS MORNING.
FURTHER WEST THE CHANCE OF SLEET MIXING IN WITH SNOW DECREASES BUT
IS STILL POSSIBLE. SLEET WILL CAUSE VSBYS TO IMPROVE AT THESE TIMES.
LLWS IS EXPECTED EARLY THURSDAY MORNING AS STRONG WINDS ENTER ALOFT.
GUSTY NW WINDS WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 KTS WILL THEN OCCUR ACROSS THE
REGION WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MRB AND CHO WHICH WILL SEE WEAKER GUSTS.
LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE AWAY FROM THE REGION THURSDAY NIGHT AND CIGS
WILL IMPROVE FROM SW TO NE DURING THIS TIME. IFR CONDITIONS SHOULD
PERSIST AT BWI-MTN THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. GUSTY NW WINDS WILL
SUBSIDE BY FRIDAY MORNING AND CLEARING IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR. A
CLIPPER SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION FRIDAY NIGHT. CIGS WILL
LOWER INTO SAT MORNING. SCT SN SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE RESULTING IN
LOW VSBYS.
MVFR CONDITIONS MAY EVOLVE WITH ANY SNOW SHOWERS SATURDAY MORNING
AND AGAIN SUNDAY MORNING...OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH
MONDAY. MVFR OR PERHAPS IFR CONDITIONS COULD DEVELOP WITH SNOW OR
RAIN SHOWERS MONDAY NIGHT. VFR CONDITIONS ON TUESDAY.
&&
.MARINE...
LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE UP THE EAST COAST TONIGHT REACHING THE MOUTH
OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BY THURSDAY EVENING. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO MOVE
ACROSS THE WATERS TONIGHT BEFORE SWITCHING TO SLEET AND RAIN
THURSDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON. GUSTY NW WINDS WILL INCREASE AS THE
LOW APPROACHES AND GUSTS UP TO 40 KTS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON THE BAY.
A TIGHT GRADIENT WILL PERSIST THURSDAY NIGHT AND NW WINDS WITH GUSTS
UP TO 30KTS WILL BE POSSIBLE. A ADVISORY MAY NEED TO BE ISSUED FOR
THIS TIME. FLOW WILL BECOME W-SW 5-10MPH FRIDAY. A CLIPPER WILL MOVE
ACROSS THE AREA SATURDAY MORNING. GUSTY NW WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE
SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES MAY BE NEEDED SATURDAY AND AGAIN MONDAY
NIGHT.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
A NORTH-NORTHEAST FLOW WILL CAUSE ELEVATED WATER LEVELS LATE
TONIGHT AND THURSDAY AS A COASTAL LOW PASSES BY TO THE EAST.
MINOR COASTAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE NEAR TIMES OF HIGH
TIDE...ESPECIALLY ALONG COASTAL SECTIONS OF LWR SRN MD.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 3 PM EST
THURSDAY FOR DCZ001.
MD...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 3 PM EST
THURSDAY FOR MDZ013-014-016.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 AM EST FRIDAY
FOR MDZ003>007-009>011.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 PM EST
THURSDAY FOR MDZ501-502.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EST
THURSDAY FOR MDZ017-018.
VA...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 PM EST THURSDAY FOR VAZ025>027-
029-036>040-050-051-056-503-504.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 3 PM EST
THURSDAY FOR VAZ054-057.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 AM EST FRIDAY
FOR VAZ028-030-031-042-052-053-055-501-502.
WV...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 PM EST THURSDAY FOR WVZ505-506.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 AM EST FRIDAY
FOR WVZ051>053.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 PM EST
THURSDAY FOR WVZ050-055-501>504.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 2 AM EST
THURSDAY FOR ANZ532-540-541.
GALE WARNING FROM 2 AM TO 6 PM EST THURSDAY FOR ANZ532>534-537-
540>543.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 2 AM EST THURSDAY FOR ANZ533-542.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 2 AM EST THURSDAY FOR ANZ534-537-
543.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM EST
THURSDAY FOR ANZ530-531-535-538-539.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EST THURSDAY FOR ANZ536.
&&
SYNOPSIS...JRK
NEAR TERM...JRK
SHORT TERM...HAS
LONG TERM...KLW
AVIATION...JRK/HAS/KLW
MARINE...JRK/HAS/KLW
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...JRKHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 413 PM EST WED FEB 12 2014 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ006-007-011-013-014-016>018-VAZ052>057- 131015- 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- 413 PM EST WED FEB 12 2014 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...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A WINTER STORM WARNING GOES INTO EFFECT THIS EVENING FOR THE OUTLOOK AREA...EXCEPT FOR CALVERT AND ST MARYS COUNTIES WHERE A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST WBCWSWLWX FOR FURTHER DETAILS. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN MARYLAND AND EXPANDS TO ALL WATERS THIS EVENING. A GALE WARNING GOES INTO IN EFFECT FOR WATERS SOUTH OF SANDY POINT EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE WINTER STORM WARNINGS CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY...THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT FOR PORTIONS OF THE OUTLOOK AREA. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CALVERT AND ST MARYS COUNTIES ENDS NOON THURSDAY. MINOR COASTAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE NEAR TIMES OF HIGH TIDE THURSDAY FOR SOUTHERN MARYLAND SHORES. A GALE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR WATERS SOUTH OF SANDY POINT AND THE LOWER TIDAL POTOMAC THURSDAY. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE THE REMAINDER OF THE WATERS THURSDAY. A GALE WARNING MAY BE NEEDED FOR SOUTHERN MARYLAND PORTIONS OF THE WATERS THURSDAY EVENING...WITH SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES POSSIBLE ELSEWHERE. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED FOR THE WATERS SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE RELAY SNOWFALL REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. MDZ003>005-009-010-501-502-VAZ025>031-036>040-042-050-051-501>504- WVZ050>053-055-501>506-131015- 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- 413 PM EST WED FEB 12 2014 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...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A WINTER STORM WARNING GOES INTO EFFECT THIS EVENING FOR THE OUTLOOK AREA. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST WBCWSWLWX FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE WINTER STORM WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL LATE EVENING FOR ALL AREAS...THEN THROUGH THE NIGHT FOR THE NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY...NORTHERN VIRGINIA...AND NORTH-CENTRAL MARYLAND. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE RELAY SNOWFALL REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
25 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Scottsville.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at surrounding locations.
Snowfall accumulations averaged six inches or more across the county.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at surrounding locations.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at surrounding locations.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Dayton.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Standardsville.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Somerset.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Strasburg.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Stanley.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Haywood.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Culpeper.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at White Oak.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Stafford.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Winchester.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Berryville.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Karo.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Warrenton.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Warrenton.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Manassas.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Fairfax.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at King George.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Arlington.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Chester Gap.
Snow accumulations of 6 or more inches were measured at Sterling.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, February 2014
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: 503573, 503577, 510368, 503569, 503570, 503578, 503579, 503580, 503581, 503582, 503583, 503585, 503592, 503593, 503594, 503595, 503596, 503598, 503599, 503600, 503601, 503602, 503603, 503604, 510367.