December 19, 2023

Quick Review and Outlook:

As the system departs, we are left this morning with lingering light upslope snow.

This will drop additional light accumulations in areas as it breaks apart towards midday.

The early morning snowfall roundup map for snow that has fell in the past 24 hours looks like

Some localized amounts will exceed or be under what is viewed. As the case with every system of winners and losers and especially so with this and what was initially a squally setup, that will provide winners and losers on snowfall amounts of either high or low. If you were under a squall or repeated squalls last evening, you ended up a few inches higher than areas miles away that missed out. Those squalls and streamers can beat the west is best upslope setup as well for localized eastern locals. But in the overall scheme, west is best and was best with the setup.

Canaan Heights 10″, Canaan Valley Coop 9.5″, 7Springs 6″, Wisp 4″, some 5, 6″ reports towards Grantsville. 4.5″ Bittinger, Snowshoe reports 6″, but that appears low based on pictures. Areas north of Terra Alta reporting 6″. In the overall general picture numbers came in pretty much as modeling had, with some exceptions in localized areas on the east side.

currently here before 11am we have temps mid teens Wv high ground to lower 20s elsewhere

Resorts all looking good

Snowshoe below

Canaan below

Timberline below

Wisp below

7Springs Below

Whitegrass below

Upcoming tranquil and slightly milder temps will not be a big impact to area resorts. For the most temps will run 35-44 across the area through the weekend. The key is, it’s accompanied by low dewpoints and light winds through Friday (huge factor vs the same temps with higher dewpoints and wind) and the shortest days and lowest sun angle of the year. Modeling often will model a touch too warm with snow cover and a low sun angle and short period of diurnal warmth than reality will have it.. Winter activities should run well this week despite the quiet and slightly milder, but comfortable conditions. Not harsh, no big meltdown, no big precip events. A outside chance of a shower or high elevation flake Saturday and weekend dewpoints creep up making things a touch stickier.

Next week potential for wet to white, but it will not surprise me to see things trend cooler next week. We are not battling a big SE ridge like in recent years

Review of December 19, 2023

Forest Service Cam offline since 6/24/21

Dec 19(Tues)

On and off light snow today after areas of squalls and moderate upslope overnight with blowing and drifting

Bittinger 2nw Valley

Dyacon Data below

Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon “Fridge Spot”

Garrett County Airport

Top of Wisp

Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE

Climate Reference Network Station

Atop Canaan Ski area

Cabin Mt at Bald Knob

Cabin Mt-Western Sods

Spruce Knob

Canaan Valley Refuge

Mt.Davis

Snowshoe

Petersburg Grant County Airport

Elkins Airport

SITE COMPARISON

Dy007-Canaan Valley Refuge 3150′, Dy008-Bittinger 2nw Valley 2600′, Dy002-Cabin Mt at Bald Knob 4350′, Dy003-Cabin Mt-Western Sods 4035′, Dy004-Spruce Knob 4820′, Cvpw2-Climate Reference Network Canaan 3380′, KW99-Petersburg Grant County Airport 961, K2G4 Garrett County Airport 2933′, KCBE Cumberland Airport 774′, KEKN Elkins Airport 1985′, KMGW Morgantown Airport 1227′, PMN16-Mt.Davis 3038′, KDCA-Reagan National 15′, G1472 Snowshoe 4500′, F0183 Burkes Garden 3050′