Low pressure passing to the south brought widespread snow.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 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 passing to the south brought widespread snow.
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 25, 9:28 PM EST, 1 hour 32 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
928 PM EST WED FEB 25 2015
.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE OVER THE GULF STATES WILL TRACK ALONG THE CAROLINA
COAST TONIGHT AND NORTHEAST FROM CAPE HATTERAS THURSDAY MORNING.
AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH CROSSES THE GREAT LAKES THURSDAY NIGHT. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD THROUGH SATURDAY. THE NEXT COLD FRONT
WILL CROSS THE AREA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. A WARM FRONT LIFTS
INTO THE AREA TUESDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/...
HEADLINE EXPANSION WITH WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SOUTHERN MARYLAND
AND NORTH-CENTRAL VIRGINIA (ALONG WITH OUR NEW-THIS-WINTER CENTRAL
VA BLUE RIDGE ZONE) AND ADVISORIES NOW FOR THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY
NORTH TO WINCHESTER AND JEFFERSON COUNTY WV.
PLEASE EXCUSE SLOW UPDATES FOR THINGS SUCH AS OUR WINTER MAPS AS
PROCESSES ARE STILL SLOW IN THE WAKE OF OUR SOFTWARE UPGRADE ON
MONDAY.
AS OF 02Z...SATELLITE DEPICTION OF DEVELOPING LOW/COMMA CLOUD
SHIELD SPANS FROM SRN IL TO THE DELMARVA DOWN TO THE FL PANHANDLE.
SFC LOW CENTER IS 1001MB OVER THE FL PANHANDLE. THIS WILL QUICKLY
TRACK ENE ACROSS SRN GA TO ALONG (BUT OFF) THE CAROLINA COAST
THROUGH THE REST OF THE OVERNIGHT. LIGHT ONSHORE FLOW HAS BEGUN
OVER THE AREA...THOUGH DEWPOINTS ARE STILL AT OR BELOW 20F.
AMBIENT TEMPS ARE DROPPING BELOW FREEZING AND WETBULBS LOOK TO BE
IN THE MID 20S. RADAR MOSAIC SHOWS WIDESPREAD PRECIP ACROSS NC
JUST STARTING TO ENTER VA.
SNOW ONSET LOOKS A LITTLE LATER DUE TO THIS DRY AIR IN PLACE.
SWRN ZONES ONSET MIDNIGHT TO 1AM...SRN MD 1AM TO 2AM...DC METRO
AND SHEN VLY 3AM TO 5AM...BALTIMORE MORE LIKE 5AM TO 7AM.
MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY BANDS WILL DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT ON THE
FAR NWRN SIDE OF THE LOW AND AFFECT CENTRAL VA TO CENTRAL MD. LOW
LEVEL ELY FLOW WILL UPSLOPE ON THE PIEDMONT TO THE BLUE RIDGE
(HENCE CNTRL VA BLUE RIDGE IN WARNING). WILL NEED TO WATCH WRN/NRN
EDGE OF PRECIP FOR POSSIBLE FURTHER EXPANSION OF ADVISORY
HEADLINES. CRITERIA FOR NRN SHEN VLY IS 2IN BUT ONE INCH ON A
WEEKDAY MORNING RUSH WOULD BE IMPACTFUL SO IT SHOULD WARRANT THE
ADVISORY.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM THURSDAY/...
THIS WL BE A FAST MOVG SYSTEM...TRACKING WELL OUT TO SEA BY LATE
MRNG. SNOW EXPECTED TO END BY (OR BEFORE) NOON.
AFTERNOON BRKS IN THE CLDS SHOULD APPEAR...BUT STILL TEMPS SHOULD
BE WELL BLO NRML AGN. HIGHS XPCTD TO BE IN THE L30S. WINDS OUT OF
THE N AT 10-15 MPH WL KEEP WIND CHILLS IN THE TEENS.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
MID/UPPER LEVEL TROUGHING WILL DOMINATE THE EASTERN TWO-THIRDS OF
THE CONUS THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. THE LOCAL AREA WILL BE ON THE
CYCLONIC SIDE OF A STRONG UPPER LEVEL JET AND A PERTURBED MID LEVEL
FLOW. THIS WILL LEAD TO GENERALLY CLOUDY...UNSETTLED CONDITIONS.
850MB TROUGH AXIS PASSES THURSDAY EVENING...LEADING TO CAA. MOST
FAVORABLE TIME FOR MOIST UPSLOPE FLOW WILL BE DURING THE EVENING AND
THUS ADDED LIKELY POPS TO THE FAVORED AREAS. INDICATIONS THAT SNOW
SHOWERS MAY ALSO SPREAD EAST OF THE ALLEGHENIES DURING THE EVENING
IN THIS PERIOD OF MORE FAVORABLE LIFT. HAVE HIGHEST POPS GENERALLY
WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE.
MID LEVEL TROUGH AXIS APPROACHES ON FRIDAY...ALTHOUGH UNLIKE SOME
RECENT CASES...IT WILL BEGIN TO SHEAR OUT ALONG THE OHIO VALLEY.
HOWEVER...COMBINED WITH STEEP LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES INTERSECTING THE
DGZ...IT MAY BE ENOUGH TO PRODUCE FLURRIES OR SNOW SHOWERS ON
FRIDAY. MOISTURE PROFILES WILL BE THINNING THOUGH...SO QUESTIONABLE
HOW ROBUST THESE WOULD BE. WOULD PREFER TO HAVE LESS-VAGUE WORDING
IN THE FORECAST AS THERE PROBABLY WILL NOT BE A CONTINUOUS CHANCE OF
SNOW SHOWERS FROM THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY...BUT AT THIS TIME
THERE IS LITTLE TO PINPOINT TO HELP IN NARROWING DOWN TIMING. TEMPS
STRUGGLE TO CLIMB THROUGH THE 20S AND LOWER 30S ON FRIDAY.
HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM WEST FRIDAY NIGHT AS UPPER FLOW
FLATTENS. WITH DIMINISHING WINDS AND CLEARING SKIES...TEMPERATURES
WILL FALL QUICKLY. SINGLE DIGITS OR LOWER POSSIBLE ALONG PA BORDER
AND WEST OF BLUE RIDGE...TEENS EAST. WILL HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF
SNOWPACK EFFECT IF RADIATIONAL COOLING MAXIMIZED...AS WELL AS WIND
CHILLS BELOW ZERO IF A BREEZE STAYS IN PLACE.
LARGE HIGH PRESSURE GRADUALLY MOVES OVER THE AREA SATURDAY INTO
SUNDAY. AIRMASS SLOWLY MODIFIES AS PRECIPITATION BEGINS TO OVERRUN
A WARM FRONT LATE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. A WINTRY MIX IS POSSIBLE AT
THE ONSET DEPENDING ON HOW QUICKLY COLD AIR ERODES AT THE SURFACE.
COLD HIGH PRESSURE BRIEFLY NOSES OVER THE AREA LATE MONDAY INTO
TUESDAY BEFORE A MORE POTENT STORM SYSTEM APPROACHES TUESDAY NIGHT
INTO WEDNESDAY. LOOKS LIKE THERE MAY BE SOME DEEPER COLD AIR AND
MORE PRECIP TO DEAL WITH IN THIS SECOND SYSTEM SO MORE SUBSTANTIAL
WINTRY PRECIP IS POSSIBLE AND BEARS WATCHING IN SUBSEQUENT
FORECASTS.
&&
.AVIATION /02Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
VFR CONDS THROUGH MIDNIGHT..THEN CIGS/VSBY EXPCTD TO DIMINISH
FROM S TO N AS SNOW DVLPS ACROSS THE MID ATLC. IFR CONDS EXPECTED
AT ALL TAF SITES EXCEPT KMRB ON FRINGE OF STORM TRACKING ALONG NC
COAST LATE TONIGHT. CONDITIONS SLOWLY IMPROVE THROUGH THE MORNING.
KEPT IFR INTO THE LATE MORNING...EXPECT IFR AT LEAST THROUGH MID-
MORNING.
LOW CONFIDENCE THURSDAY NIGHT-FRIDAY WRT ISOLATED/SCATTERED SNOW
SHOWERS. IF THEY MATERIALIZE BRIEF CIG/VSBY REDUCTIONS ARE POSSIBLE.
VFR MORE CERTAIN BY FRIDAY NIGHT. WINDS IN NW QUADRANT THURSDAY
NIGHT-FRIDAY NIGHT GENERALLY LESS THAN 10 KT.
MAINLY VFR SAT-SUN AM W/ SLY FLOW AOB 10 KT. SUB-VFR POSSIBLE BY
SUN NIGHT AS FRONTAL SYSTEM APPROACHES FROM THE WEST.
&&
.MARINE...
SCA IN EFFECT FOR NELY FLOW ALL WATERS XCPT UPR PTMC AFTR 4
AM...AND THEN ALL WATERS AFTR 10 AM THU.
N/NW FLOW PREVAILS THURSDAY NIGHT-FRIDAY NIGHT. STRONGEST WINDS ARE
FORECAST FOR LATE FRIDAY NIGHT BUT IT LOOKS LIKE GUSTS GENERALLY
STAY BELOW SCA LEVELS.
HIGH PRESSURE MOVES OVERHEAD WITH WEAK GRADIENT SAT-
SUN...AND SUB-SCA CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED DURING THIS TIME.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON EST
THURSDAY FOR DCZ001.
MD...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON EST
THURSDAY FOR MDZ013-014.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 3 AM TO NOON EST THURSDAY FOR
MDZ004>006-011-503>508.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON EST
THURSDAY FOR MDZ016>018.
VA...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON EST THURSDAY FOR VAZ508.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON EST
THURSDAY FOR VAZ026-038>040-050>054-502-507.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON EST THURSDAY FOR VAZ025-036-
037.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 3 AM TO NOON EST THURSDAY FOR
VAZ027-029-030-501-505-506.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON EST
THURSDAY FOR VAZ055>057.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 5 AM TO 11 AM EST THURSDAY FOR
VAZ028-031.
WV...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 5 AM TO 11 AM EST THURSDAY FOR
WVZ053.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 4 AM TO 6 PM EST THURSDAY FOR
ANZ530>534-537>543.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM EST THURSDAY FOR
ANZ535-536.
&&
UPDATE...JACKSON
PREVIOUS...WOODY!/ADS/DFHHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 846 PM EST WED FEB 25 2015 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ011-013-014-016>018-508-VAZ052>057-270200- 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-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE-PRINCE GEORGES- ANNE ARUNDEL-CHARLES-ST. MARYS-CALVERT-SOUTHEAST HARFORD- PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK-FAIRFAX- ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-STAFFORD-SPOTSYLVANIA- KING GEORGE- 846 PM EST WED FEB 25 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF AN...CENTRAL MARYLAND...NORTHERN MARYLAND...SOUTHERN MARYLAND...THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN MARYLAND AND PORTIONS OF NORTH-CENTRAL VIRGINIA. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT OVERNIGHT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE OUTLOOK AREA. PLEASE SEE WSWLWX FOR MORE INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE WINTER STORM WARNING AND WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON THURSDAY. A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION IS POSSIBLE TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. SNOWFALL REPORTS OVERNIGHT ARE APPRECIATED. MDZ003>006-501>507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501>508-WVZ050>053- 055-501>506-270200- WASHINGTON-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL-NORTHERN BALTIMORE- EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY-CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY- NORTHWEST MONTGOMERY-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY- NORTHWEST HOWARD-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST HOWARD-NORTHWEST HARFORD- AUGUSTA-ROCKINGHAM-SHENANDOAH-FREDERICK VA-PAGE-WARREN-CLARKE- NELSON-ALBEMARLE-GREENE-MADISON-RAPPAHANNOCK-ORANGE-CULPEPER- NORTHERN FAUQUIER-SOUTHERN FAUQUIER-WESTERN HIGHLAND- EASTERN HIGHLAND-WESTERN LOUDOUN-EASTERN LOUDOUN- NORTHERN VA BLUE RIDGE-CENTRAL VA BLUE RIDGE-HAMPSHIRE-MORGAN- BERKELEY-JEFFERSON-HARDY-WESTERN GRANT-EASTERN GRANT- WESTERN MINERAL-EASTERN MINERAL-WESTERN PENDLETON- EASTERN PENDLETON- 846 PM EST WED FEB 25 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MARYLAND...NORTH CENTRAL MARYLAND...NORTHERN MARYLAND...WESTERN MARYLAND...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...NORTHERN VIRGINIA...NORTHWEST VIRGINIA...WESTERN VIRGINIA AND NORTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL VIRGINIA BLUE RIDGE. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF THE REST OF THE AREA OVERNIGHT. PLEASE SEE WSWLWX FOR MORE INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE WINTER STORM WARNING AND WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON ON THURSDAY. A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION IS POSSIBLE AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT SUNDAY EVENING...MAINLY ACROSS THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS. A MORE WIDESPREAD WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION IS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE AREA TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. SNOWFALL REPORTS OVERNIGHT ARE APPRECIATED. JACKSON
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 winter weather, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Spotter reported 2.8 inches was reported.
Spotters reported between 2.0 and 2.5 inches.
Spotters reported between 1.0 and 3.0 inches.
Spotters reported between 1.0 and 3.5 inches.
Around 3.0 inches was reported.
Spotter in Shiloh reported 6.0 inches. Between 4.0 and 5.0 inches was reported around the county.
Spotters reported between 2.0 and 2.5 inches.
Around 2 inches of snow was reported.
Between 1.0 and 3.5 inches was reported.
Between 1.0 and 2.0 inches was reported.
Between 1.0 and 2.0 inches was reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, February 2015
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: 561246, 561250, 561251, 561252, 561257, 561258, 561248, 561255, 561256, 561253, 561254.