Outlook from March 10, 2024

Outlook from March 10, 2024

Winter Storm Warnings out across the Alleghenies. Will all areas reach that criteria. Unlikely. For a good portion of this morning, things will look pretty boring. Winds are up, some areas of initial light snow has occurred and flakes flying and some areas of sun. Those mid range 2000-2800′ areas that see some sun and brighter periods may melt off with little action prior to the increase in activity later.

View of 7Springs this morning

And a view of Mt.Davis

Savage Mt

Lower New Germany I68

Deep Creek Lake 219

Centennial Park 219,  more action occurred here under the colder air

Corridor H near Mt.Storm

33 at the divide east of Harman

Down to Spruce Knob area

Snowshoe-with guns cranking

Satellite near 9am. Plenty of broken skies as you approach the Mason Dixon line. That light dusting some areas saw, very well may melt off in sunny areas today ahead of developing squall activity.  That will aid the instability, try to warm the lower levels up in this cold unstable air mass and fire those squalls up.

Radar

Best of light activity in WV at the moment.

A jump to current temps

Factoring in the gusty 30-40mph winds that will increase..windchills single digits WV High Ground

Now to some modeling for the event on snowfall

6z ECMWF

6z GFS

Canadian short range

12zHRRR

  You can see how the mescoscale short range modeling tries to pick out some of the potential on the streamers, squalls, and elongated squalls. Those elongated squalls is really what’s needed go get some of those potential higher totals.

  Many areas very well may end up low on snow totals that miss out in squalls. With little activity this a.m, some breaks of sun. Some of the winter storm warning areas may have simply bare ground going in to the afternoon. That said, stay alert to radar. With the Winter Storm Warnings in place, the weather service will not issue snow squall warnings. So, some alertness to radar is important. This is why in my personal opinion, leaving the winter weather advisory in place, as most will fall in that criteria, with the squall areas potentially reaching winter storm warning totals criteria would have been a better call to bring awareness to the snow squalls which should be the main player for the higher accumulations and the rapid travel deterioration.

NWS snowfall forecast

And those warning areas

Stay alert to radar this afternoon. A sunny ho hum this is boring can change to inches within a short time frame and cause poor travel. All the while down the road a mile little action may be occurring.

March 9, 2024

March 9, 2024

Forest Service Cam offline since 6/24/21

Mar 9(Sat)

Rainy, some fog through the day

Bittinger 2NW Valley

Bittinger 2NW Valley morning
Bittinger 2NW Valley morning

Garrett County Airport

Top of Wisp

Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE

Climate Reference Network Canaan

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′

The Valley vs Cabin Mt

Bittinger 2NW Valley vs Mt.Davis

Canaan area temps

High Ground Comparison

Up High and Down Low

Up High,  High Valley, Low Valley

The Valleys

WV High Ground Cold Spots vs DCA

RTMA

Radar

Satellite

Flow

Current Surface Features and 500mb Height Anomalies and Flow

OUTLOOK FROM MARCH 9, 2024

Outlook from March 9, 2024

A rainy start to Saturday as seen by radar

Rainfall will continue to work through the day today in to the overnight, before colder air works in and we see things begin to flip to some snow activity. 

Before the changeover to snow, rainfall tallies look to range in the .75 to 1.50 range

6z ECMWF below

6z GFS below

The chilly temps of this morning, mainly 30s,40s

Those number will not go far today under the wet conditions. 6z ECMWF temps below

As the colder air works in, so does the opportunity for snow activity.  That snow activity should increase through the day Sunday. We are in March now. The higher sun angle adding surface warmth with the cold unstable air mass pushing in will only add to the instability through the afternoon and in to the early overnight Sunday.

Expect squalls and enlongated squalls Sunday afternoon in to the overnight. With those, some areas do miss out on the snow while others are in the snow. With the higher sun, slightly warmer ground. Some mid range elevations in the upslope zones 2500′-3000′ and below areas may even bare off from the lighter morning snows unless under some more persistent activity. So overall snow totals will vary. Location to location.

1- elevation, 2- persistentcy of snow activity will play a role in accumulation totals.

That said, those warmer roadway temps will rapidly cool under temps in 20s, strong winds and any squalls can rapidly cover roadways creating poor travel.

The modeled snowfall

6z ECMWF

6z GFS

Likely those amounts will be low in places that see persistent squalls. While some of the lighter amounts will even melt off some.

Some of the mesoscale modeling does of better job of hinting at this. Using the Canadian short range here as the U.S mesoscale models look a bit bizarre this morning.

Here you can see the model hinting at streamers and or elongated squalls. Those are the ones where if you are under you are saying wow, this is over performing, if you are not under, oh this is a dud. Impossible to tell where they set up best. A area that frequently seems to get under those is the I68 area.

The NWS is out with advisories. Also the NWS snowfall links are included on the page under “snowfall info” on the drop-down links on mobile or it should be visible on non mobile devices.

The details in the winter weather advisory are as follows

The NWS snowfall map looks like

I’d lean a general 2-4″ totals with higher pops.

This is also accompanied by strong winds. So along with the Winter Weather Advisories are wind advisories

Modeled winds off the 6z ECMWF

Things moderate Monday. The winds stay up, temps back to the 30s, low 40s and then high pressure moves over and those winds die and we have a moderated air mass with more daytime diurnal warmth Tues-Thurs. That’s accompanied by yet low dewpoints and calmer conditions for that duration. Low dewpoints and light winds are the best combo to limit snow melt for the area resorts that will remain open after the weekend. Further out, some rain to snow again as we go through next weekend and models all hint at some bouts of cold and snow from then through Easter. Mild blips will be bound to occur as well.

March 8, 2024

March 8, 2024

Forest Service Cam offline since 6/24/21

Mar 8(Fri)

A.M fog in areas. Mainly cloudy, few glimpses of sun

Bittinger 2NW Valley

Rock Lodge near The Glades morning
Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning
West of Bittinger morning
Up from Bittinger 2NW Valley morning
Bittinger 2NW Valley morning
Bittinger 2NW Valley morning
Bittinger 2NW Valley morning
Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon
Bittinger 2NW Valley afternoon

Garrett County Airport

Deep Creek Lake morning

Top of Wisp

Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE

Climate Reference Network Canaan

Atop Canaan Ski area

Cabin Mt at Bald Knob

Whitegrass Cam

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′

The Valley vs Cabin Mt

Bittinger 2NW Valley vs Mt.Davis

Canaan area temps

High Ground Comparison

Up High and Down Low

Up High,  High Valley, Low Valley

The Valleys

WV High Ground Cold Spots vs DCA

RTMA

Radar

https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/GIS/apps/rview/warnings.phtml?osite=RLX&tzoff=0&layers%5B%5D=nexrad&layers%5B%5D=warnings&layers%5B%5D=cwas&layers%5B%5D=uscounties&layers%5B%5D=watches&layers%5B%5D=blank&site=RLX&tz=EST&archive=yes&year=2024&month=3&day=8&hour=23&minute=55&warngeo=both&zoom=250&imgsize=640×480&loop=1&frames=90&interval=15&filter=0&cu=0&sortcol=fcster&sortdir=DESC&lsrlook=%2B&lsrwindow=0

Satellite

Flow

Current Surface Features and 500mb Height Anomalies and Flow

To Cranesville

Grantsville to Savage Mt

Lavale to Cumberland

Town Hill

March 7, 2024

March 7, 2024

Forest Service Cam offline since 6/24/21

Mar 7(Thurs)

Some rain last night, lingering patchy drizzle, fog early then clouds to clouds/sun mix

Bittinger 2nw Valley

Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon
Bittinger 2nw Valley evening

Garrett County Airport

Deep Creek Lake morning
Deep Creek Lake afternoon

Top of Wisp

Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE

Climate Reference Network Canaan

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′

The Valley vs Cabin Mt

Bittinger 2nw Valley vs Mt.Davis

Canaan area temps

High Ground Comparison

Up High and Down Low

Up High, High Valley, Low Valley

The Valleys

WV High Ground Cold Spots vs DCA

RTMA

Radar

Satellite

Flow

Current Surface Features and 500mb Height Anomalies and Flow

Sideling Hill Creek at Northcraft

Town Hill

Polish Mt

Martins Mt

Cumberland to Lavale

Frostburg

Savage Mt to Grantsville

Swanton

March 6, 2024

March 6, 2024

Forest Service Cam offline since 3/6/24

Mar 6(Wed)

Light shower pre-dawn, cloudy with areas of light rain today. Areas of thick fog

Bittinger 2nw Valley

Dyacon Data below

West of Bittinger morning
Up from Bittinger 2nw valley morning
Up from Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning
Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning
Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning
Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades afternoon
Up from Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon

Garrett County Airport

Deep Creek Lake morning
By Sand Flat Rd morning

Top of Wisp

Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE

Climate Refinance Network Canaan

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′

The Valley vs Cabin Mt

Bittinger 2nw Valley vs Mt.Davis

Canaan area temps

High Ground Comparison

Up High and Down Low

Up High, High Valley, Low Valley

The Valleys

WV High Ground Cold Spots vs DCA

RTMA

Radar

Satellite

Flow

Current Surface Features and 500mb Height Anomalies and Flow

Oakland area

Grantsville to Savage Mt

Frostburg

Lavale

Town Hill

Outlook from March 5, 2024

Outlook from March 5, 2024

Is winter done? Well to say anything for certain would be silly. Time and time again, models have lead many astray this winter. There is some reason to believe them now. One is, as the seasonal transition of winter to spring, wave lengths shortern, patterns will progress. That’s exactly where the models go. It is a ways out. The gut says a 7-15 day wintry period will setup as we progress later in to the month and begin April. It would not be a shock to see astronomical spring begin wintry and lasting through Easter. Not a lock. But the look is there.

Lets look at modeling and watch as this progresses over the coming weeks.

Starting with the 18z GFS ensemble at our current time

and we end like

The ECMWF ensemble control. We begin like this

and it ends like

The ECMWF ensemble begins

and we end like

The Canadian ensembles begin like

and we end like

ECMWF WEEKLIES control in that period 7 day anomaly

and the Weeklies 7 day anomaly

The ECMWF AI model begins like

and ends like

The teleconnections fit the look

Slightly negative
Slightly negative, the very end of the period will be the focus
Big modeled EPO drop…that will progress the pattern with a building western ridge as shown by the PNA going positive

As we progress to that time period the high elevations are still well within play for some winter fun. The higher sun angle and cold air masses always can create some good instability for squalls…some blocking going on, shorter wave lengths can tighten up a strong low. It may be a interesting period and not uncommon to get this mild weather to prelude patterns like may potentially occur..

The potential light upslope Sunday is in non relation to what may occur later on. That’s a blip that comes and comes, not a hit with any attempt to hold.

Review of March 5, 2024

Review of March 5, 2024

Forest Service Cam offline since 6/24/21

Mar 5(Tues)

A variety of conditions from west to east. The Alleghenies and west had a pleasant day while east was wet and more dreary. That dreariness of fog, low clouds had made its way back to parts of the Alleghenies early a.m before departing by mid morning.

Bittinger 2nw Valley

Dyacon data below

Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning
West of Bittinger morning
Near Bittinger 2nw morning
Up from Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning
Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon
Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon
Up from Bittinger 2nw Valley evening
Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades evening

Garrett County Airport

  • Hearing peepers along Mosser Rd along Bear Creek area.
Mchenry morning
Deep Creek Lake morning

Top of Wisp

Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE

7am to 7am data mmts coop BP

Climate Reference Network Canaan

Atop Canaan Ski area

Cabin Mt at Bald Knob

Whitegrass cam

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′

The Valley vs Cabin Mt

Bittinger 2nw Valley vs Mt.Davis

Canaan area temps

High Ground Comparison

Up High and Down Low

Up High, High Valley, Low Valley

The Valleys

WV High Ground Cold Spots vs DCA

RTMA

Radar

Satellite

Flow

Current Surface Features and 500mb Height Anomalies and Flow

Cranesville

The Yough at Sang Run

March 4, 2024

March 4, 2024

Forest Service Cam offline 6/24/21

Mar 4(Mon)

A.m Valley fog, otherwise a warm sunny day. Mildest day since Nov 17 for many..Some high cloudiness late.

Bittinger 2nw Valley

Dyacon data below

Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning “experimental fridge spot”
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Up from Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
West of Bittinger morning
Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning
Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon
Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon
Bittinger 2nw Valley evening
Bittinger 2nw Valley-Springwater Temps. Basically hold 46.5 to 47.5 year round.

Garrett County Airport

Deep Creek Lake morning
Mchenry morning
Mchenry morning

A mother bear and 4 cubs living under the deck at the Railey Mountain Vacation office in McHenry was removed today and moved to a abandon bear den on state land.

Top of Wisp

Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE

Climate Reference Network Canaan

Atop Canaan Ski area

Cabin Mt at Bald Knob

Whitegrass cam

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′

The Valley vs Cabin Mt

Bittinger 2nw Valley vs Mt.Davis

Canaan area Temps

High Ground Comparison

Up High and Down Low

Up High, High Valley, Low Valley

The Valleys

WV High Ground Cold Spots vs DCA

RTMA

Radar

Satellite

Flow

Current Surface Features and 500mb Height Anomalies and Flow

Buck Valley to Northcraft

Town Hill

Polish Mt

Martins Mt

Cumberland

Frostburg

Savage Mt to Grantsville

Oakland

March 3, 2024

March 3, 2024

Forest Service Cam offline since 6/24/21

Mar 3(Sun)

Areas of a.m fog. Clouds and sun today

Bittinger 2nw Valley

Dyacon data below

Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning

Garrett County Airport

Mchenry morning-Railey cam

Top of Wisp

Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE

7am to 7am data mmts coop BP

Climate Reference Network Canaan

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′

The Valley vs Cabin Mt

Bittinger 2nw Valley vs Mt Davis

Canaan area temps

High Ground Comparison

Up High and Down Low

Up High, High Valley, Low Valley

The Valleys

Wv High Ground Cold Spots vs DCA

RTMA

Radar

void

Satellite

Flow

Current Surface Features and 500mb Height Anomalies and Flow

March 2, 2024

March 2, 2024

Forest Service Cam offline since 6/24/21

Mar 2(Sat)

Cloudy, rainy am..dreary..some bright breaks in places

Bittinger 2nw Valley

Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning

Garrett County Airport

Top of Wisp

Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE

Climate Reference Network Canaan

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′

The Valley vs Cabin Mt

Bittinger 2nw Valley vs Mt.Davis

Canaan area temps

High Ground Comparison

Up High and Down Low

Up High, High Valley, Low Valley

The Valleys

Wv High Ground Cold Spots vs DCA

RTMA

Radar

Satellite

Flow

Current Surface Features and 500mb Height Anomalies and Flow

Sierra Blizzard