Winter Storm, Garrett
- When
- March 20, 6:00 AM EST to March 21, 7:00 PM EST
- Where
- Garrett forecast zone
- Reported by
- Public
Winter Storm in Maryland, March 20 to 21, 2018
Southern stream low brought a period of mixed precipitation across the higher elevations, which eventually changed to snow cross much of the upper Ohio Valley as an upper trough pivoted overhead and coastal low development enhanced cold advection across the region. While ice amounts generally were a a tenth of an inch or less, snow amounts of 6-8 inches, with some isolated higher amounts…
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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.
What happened
The episode as NWS PBZ wrote it up.
Southern stream low brought a period of mixed precipitation across the higher elevations, which eventually changed to snow cross much of the upper Ohio Valley as an upper trough pivoted overhead and coastal low development enhanced cold advection across the region. While ice amounts generally were a a tenth of an inch or less, snow amounts of 6-8 inches, with some isolated higher amounts approaching 10 inches, were reported in a swath across east central Ohio, western Pennsylvania and the mountains of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland.
What forecasters said that day
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 Pittsburgh, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 20, 3:51 AM EST, 2 hours 9 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 20, 3:51 AM EST, 2 hours 9 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
451 AM EDT Tue Mar 20 2018
.SYNOPSIS...
A wintry mix of precipitation is expected today with low
pressure. The mix should change to snow tonight before gradually
tapering off Wednesday.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
Added a Winter Weather Advisory for the Laurel Highlands through
early afternoon. Temperatures on the ridge tops are near
freezing, and should fall some as evaporative cooling occurs
when precip begins. Enough warm air aloft exists for precip to
fall as rain, and freeze on surfaces. Previous discussion below.
A wintry mix of precip should overspread the region mainly S of
I 80 today as low pressure tracks across the TN and OH Valley
regions. Warm advection ahead of the low should result in mainly
rain or a rain snow mix S of I 70 outside of the higher
terrain. Rain and snow is expected N of I 70, along with a
brief, slight chance for freezing rain. Little if any
accumulation of ice or snow is expected with marginal
temperatures and the high March sun angle, though the colder
Laurel Highlands could see an inch or two of snow. Some model
progs appear to be too high with high QPF/snowfall due to
overdone strong omega bullseyes in warm advection.
The higher terrain of WV and MD should see snow and freezing
rain transition to mainly snow today. Will maintain the Winter
Storm Warning for the expected snow and ice accumulations, with
temperatures more favorable for accumulation with cold E upslope
flow.
Precip should decrease in coverage this afternoon as the best
upper support and lift exits.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY/...
A second low is progged to dig across the OH/TN Valleys tonight
and part of Wednesday. Cold advection in the wake of the initial
Tuesday low should result in all snow across the region.
Maintained the Winter Weather Advisory and the Winter Storm
Warning with accumulation expected as temperatures drop below
freezing at night. Expecting generally 2-4 inches total for
areas S of I 80, with amounts from 6-12 inches in the higher
terrain where the Winter Storm Warning is in effect.
The snow should taper off from N-S Wednesday as lift/upper
support shifts off the E Coast with a developing coastal low.
Dry weather returns with shortwave ridging Wednesday night and
Thursday. Below average temperatures are expected to continue.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
Surface ridging should maintain dry weather until a srn stream
low returns rain and snow chances S of I 80 Sat thru early Sun
night. Limited POPs to chance with a significant model shift swd
with the low in recent solutions. An Ern CONUS ridge should
return dry weather later Sun and part of Mon before a Midwest
trough returns low precip chances late Mon.
&&
.AVIATION /09Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
VFR conditions are expected through the predawn hours although
high cigs wl lwr with the approach of low pressure. Condition
deterioration will occur from the south after daybreak as that
low shunts moisture over the region. Expect general MVFR with
pockets of IFR visibility, with continued degradation to
widespread IFR during the afternoon.
OUTLOOK...
Restrictions, albeit with gradual improvement, are likely into
Thursday morning.
&&
.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...Winter Storm Warning until 8 PM EDT Wednesday for MDZ001.
OH...Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 8 PM EDT
Wednesday for OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069.
PA...Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 8 PM EDT
Wednesday for PAZ013-014-020>023-029-031-073>075.
Winter Weather Advisory until 1 PM EDT this afternoon for
PAZ074-076.
Winter Storm Warning from 8 PM this evening to 8 PM EDT
Wednesday for PAZ076.
WV...Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 8 PM EDT
Wednesday for WVZ001>004-012-021-509.
Winter Storm Warning until 8 PM EDT Wednesday for WVZ512>514.
Winter Storm Warning from 8 PM this evening to 8 PM EDT
Wednesday for WVZ510-511.
&&Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 20, 3:53 AM EST, 2 hours 7 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA 453 AM EDT Tue Mar 20 2018 MDZ001-WVZ512>514-210900- Garrett-Eastern Preston-Western Tucker-Eastern Tucker- 453 AM EDT Tue Mar 20 2018 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western Maryland and northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. WVZ510-511-210900- Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston-Preston- 453 AM EDT Tue Mar 20 2018 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM EDT WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ013-014-020>023-029-031-073- 075-WVZ001>004-012-021-509-210900- Tuscarawas-Carroll-Columbiana-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson-Muskingum- Guernsey-Belmont-Noble-Monroe-Lawrence-Butler-Beaver-Allegheny- Armstrong-Indiana-Washington-Greene-Westmoreland-Fayette-Hancock- Brooke-Ohio-Marshall-Wetzel-Marion-Monongalia- 453 AM EDT Tue Mar 20 2018 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM EDT WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Ohio, southwest Pennsylvania, west central Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and northern panhandle of West Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Weather Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Weather Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. PAZ007>009-015-016-210900- Mercer-Venango-Forest-Clarion-Jefferson- 453 AM EDT Tue Mar 20 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Pennsylvania and west central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. PAZ074-210900- Westmoreland Ridges- 453 AM EDT Tue Mar 20 2018 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON... ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM EDT WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Weather Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Weather Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. PAZ076-210900- Fayette Ridges- 453 AM EDT Tue Mar 20 2018 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON... ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM EDT WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Weather Advisory. Winter Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures.
Event by event
1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in California, March 20 to 23, 2018
- Heavy Snow in Ohio, March 20 to 21, 2018
- Winter Storm in Kentucky, March 20 to 21, 2018
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, March 20, 2018
- Winter Storm in West Virginia, March 20 to 21, 2018
- Avalanche and Flood in California, March 20 to 23, 2018
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Virginia, March 20 to 21, 2018
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Ohio, March 20 to 21, 2018
- Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, March 20, 2018
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, March 20, 2018
- Winter Storm in Maryland, March 20 to 21, 2018
- Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, March 20 to 21, 2018
More
Every storm in Maryland in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, March 2018
Sources
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: 747801.