Towards Bowman Hill morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Up from Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Foxtown Rd morning Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning West of Bittinger morning Old Cherry Glade Church morning Up From Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Towards Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley middayBittinger 2nw Valley middayDung Hill Rd middaySouth end Amish Rd midday
The Glades
(morning)
––––––––––––
Garrett County Airport
-Rock Lodge Rd morning -Deep Creek Lake morning-Deep Creek Lake morning Mosser Rd morning Mosser Rd morning Mosser Rd morning Mosser/Rock Lodge morning
Top of Wisp
Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE
7am to 7am data mmts BP
Climate Reference Network Station
Atop Canaan Ski area
Cabin Mt at Bald Knob
ERROR
Cabin Mt-Western Sods
Spruce Knob
Canaan Valley Refuge
Mt.Davis
*cam coated over
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′
A chilly start, a typical December 31st morning and temps will climb from these numbers
With a bit of a SW flow ahead of the next system dropping in as seen on the surface maps will allow to to creep upward this afternoon
By mid afternoon temps low ranging in to the 30s for many areas across the high ground.
Snow activity pushes in, in the pm hours. A initial brief round of snow may come in this afternoon with temps above freezing and that will knock temps back to near freezing but likely holding just above freezing below 2800-3000′ and holding steady through the midnight hour. So the early portion looks like a wet snow. As we go pre-dawn Monday, temps will then backslide in to the 20s and hold steady in the 20s and even upper teens above 4500′ through the first day of 2024.
Snow activity continues Monday in to early Tuesday.a.m A look at the 6z GFS and I let the run play out as there is more potential down the line beyond the next 2 days.
This most recent snowfall had total tallies mainly ranging in the 1-3″ range with a few localized areas of 3″+.
Multi day snowfall amounts from previous system. Again snowfall amounts, especially multi day are often higher than actual on the ground depth. Dye to settling, meltback etc Amounts were:
Canaan Heights 3.1″, Snowshoe 3.0″ and only reporting a trace since yesterday am at 7. Bittinger 2nw Valley 1.5″ , Bayard 1.3″
This upcoming event should be similar with more pops of 3″+ vs this prior event. More favored upslope areas of 2-4″ through 7am Tuesday. 1-3″ for most. This afternoon through 7am Tuesday.
The NWS snowfall maps are as followed:
Sterling
Pittsburgh
Charleston
State College
After this event passes, eyes will go to Thursday and then next weekend bears watching. Potentially a more active wintry period ahead. As always, subject to change
Review of December 31, 2023
Review of December 31, 2023
Forest Service Cam offline since 6/24/21
Dec 31(Sun)
Cloudy, a bit of am light snow and increase in snow activity through the afternoon with heavier pockets
Bittinger 2nw Valley
Dyacon data below-
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 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′
A bit of snow overnight, appears to generally be in the half inch to inch and a half range. A bit of fine snow/snizzle and even patches of freezing drizzle possible today. Additional accumulations look light with the fine snow. Ratios are poor given the snow structure. The modeled DGZ gave hints of this yesterday. Stable, shallow and dry and that doesn’t give any flake growth, very low snow to liquid ratios, and even allows suspended moisture to remain liquid in instances despite the entire column from cloud level to the surface below freezing. In these setups, model output whether 10 to 1 output or the kuchera ratio output are generally off and sometimes well off.
Never the less, minor events can lead to slick conditions on the roads and that is occurring in areas
Near Bittinger Garrett County 219 Centennial Park Tucker County
Temps mainly 20s across the high ground this morning
––
Tomorrow night -through Monday looks a bit more promising as the DGZ appears better. Looking like a 2-4″ event.
Review of December 30, 2023
Review of December 30, 2023
Forest Service Cam offline since 6/24/21
Dec 30(Sat)
Light snow overnight, and fine scattered light snow today
Bittinger 2nw Valley
Foxtown Rd morning Near Bittinger 2nw morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Near Old Cherry Glade Church morning Old Cherry Glade Church morning West of Bittinger morning Foxtown Rd morning Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning West of Bittinger morning West of Bittinger morning Near Bittinger 2nw morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Toward Bowman Hill morning Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley evening 5pm New snow since 7am(.3)
Garrett County Airport
Rock Lodge Rd morning State Park Rd morning Deep Creek Lake morning By Deep Creek morning Deep Creek morning State Park Rd morning Rock Lodge Rd morning
Top of Wisp
Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE
7am to 7am data mmts coop BP
Climate Reference Network Station
Atop Canaan Ski area
Cabin Mt at Bald Knob
temp sensor issues, estimated data
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′
Colder air continued to filter in through the overnight hours, dropping temps in to the 20s above 2800-3000′ and below freezing to around 2000-2500’ A bit of lingering areas of precip allowed for a few skiffs of snow on the ridgetops in spots and a touch if rime across the high Wv elevations.
9am temps
Temps hold cold though the period with the exception of a brief notch upward Sunday and early Sunday night ahead of the next disturbance. You always get that bit of SW flow ahead of those
Now the focus turns to a snow event as we go overnight tonight through Saturday. With the primary focus midnight to midday tomorrow
Current surface map showing disturbance 1 just to our west that will push through.
Models have held steady to a slight increase in amounts. There does appear to be some modeled dry air in the DGZ that could play a factor in lower amounts. We shall see. For the most it appears to be a 1-3″ event through 7am Sunday with again, the primary focus being midnight to midday/early afternoon Saturday. Some areas of 3-5″ may occur in the more persistent activity.
The 6z Gfs showing this roll through and then another disturbance Sunday PM in to Monday
Modeled amounts through 7am Sunday
6zGFS below
6z ECMWF below
0z Canadian below
12z HRRR below
The National Weather Service Offices snowfall forecast below
Sterling
Pittsburgh
Charleston
State College
Stay tuned to your latest NWS updates and snowfall graphics. The link for those are attached here on the page in the drop-down menu under snowfall info.
Additional snowfall looks to occur Sunday night in to Monday (that will be posted on once beyond this upcoming event)a few systems out beyond mid next week that are entirely too far out to say if they will or won’t amount to anything
Review of December 29, 2023
Review of December 29, 2023
Forest Service Cam offline since 6/24/21
Dec 29(Fri)
Some pre-dawn fine snow showers, clouds, sun today and pm flakes
Bittinger 2nw Valley
(T=trace within 100 feet of recording site, L=late after 5pm recording but fell before midnight, I-T =Isolated trace but outside of hundred feet but generally within 500 feet, D-O= drift only within the general 1-2 mile areas where drifting occurs. Simply for reference only)
Dyacon data below
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning West of Bittinger morning West of Bittinger morning Foxtown Rd morning Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon
Garrett County Airport
Deep Creek Lake morning Deep Creek Lake morning Deep Creek Lake morning
Top of Wisp
Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE
Climate Reference Network Station
Atop Canaan Ski area
–
Cabin Mt at Bald Knob
☆ sensor issues. After this dare the final 2 dates of the year will be estimated based off the avg departure from northern Cabin station and the Canaan ski area station. It will have no bearing at all on the month averages or yearly averages
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′
After multiple days of mild, fog, showery, dreary weather things will gradually progress colder, and a touch of white as we end the week in to Saturday.
This mornings surface map
Low pressure with the mild murky air ahead of it, and driving down the colder air behind it. With that, temps this morning chillier in the deep south than locally and colder on Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama than Northern Michigan.
Cold air is filtering in to the high ground, Spruce Knob now down to 31 at 9am and 30s across the high ground locally and 20s across the NC high ground
-and further south
–Mt.Mitchell in at 23°Upper 20s in the Grayson Highlands high ground
The reason behind the temp setup in motion
As that progresses over the coming few days, temps will run colder Friday, Saturday, a slight upward notch Sunday just ahead of another light disturbance early next week.
Temps off the 6z ECMWF below
With those temps is the light snow threat Friday in to Saturday. That’s looks like a 1-3″ setup.
Modeled amounts off the 6z ECMWF, and 6z GFS are non impressive
6z ECMWF
And below the 6z GFS
Review of December 28, 2023
Review of December 28, 2023
Forest Service Cam offline since 6/24/21
Dec 28(Thurs)
Cloudy, dreary early, then some sun to eventually mainly cloudy.
Bittinger 2nw Valley
Dyacon Data Below
Experimental “Fridge Spot” below
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning West of Bittinger morning Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon- adelgidBittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon
Garrett County Airport
Deep Creek Lake morning Deep Creek Lake morning Deep Creek Lake afternoon Deep Creek Lake evening
Top of Wisp
Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE
Climate Reference Network Station
Atop Canaan Ski
Cabin Mt at Bald Knob
Cabin Mt-Western Sods
Spruce Knob
Canaan Valley Refuge
Mt.Davis
Snowshoe
Petersburg Grant County County
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′
–Near Bittinger 2nw morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning West of Bittinger morning Foxtown Rd morning Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon “Fridge Spot”–Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Near old Cherry Glade Church eveningRock Lodge Rd near The Glades eveningRock Lodge Rd near The Glades evening
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′
Dreary, wet, foggy, just a miserable day weather wise
Bittinger 2nw Valley
Dyacon data below-
Experimental “Fridge Spot” recorded in CRS below
Towards Bowman Hill 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 morningRock Lodge Rd near The Glades morning West of Bittinger afternoon West of Bittinger afternoon Near Bittinger 2nw afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon Foxtown Rd evening Rock Lodge Rd near The Glades evening
Garrett County Airport
Deep Creek Lake morning Near Deep Creek morning
Top of Wisp
Rooftop station
Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE
7am to 7am data mmts BP
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
(CWOP G1472 at 4500′)
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′
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 Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley afternoon
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′
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 “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
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′
Oh, say can you see? Below are some locations that you can see in the distance next time you are in these spots on a clear day that maybe you didn’t know about. Or maybe you did.
Did you know:
You can see Sideling Hill from Savage Mt in Garrett County?
Beyond Sideling is the Bear Pond Mts north of Clear Springs in to Southern PA. Coming down Rt 40 near the Allegany County line, on a semi clear or better day the cut is fairly easy to pick out with the naked eye.
How is it so easy to see?
You are north of the high part of Dan’s Mt, and high enough to see over I believe that would be Haystack, Martin’s Mt, Polish Mt and Town Hill and catch the top of Sideling at the cut.
How about Canaan Ski area and Porte Crayon from Meadow Mt at Deep Creek State Park?
This is often met with. No, you must be looking at Wisp. Or no, you must be on Backbone Mt. With Cabin Mt at Weiss Knob 4450′, just left of the slopes and Porte Crayon just a few hundred feet shy of 5k feet. They rise up high enough to see pretty well anything over 3700’+/-. Backbone and Canaan Mt/Brown Mt do not obscure anything above that from the 3000′ view at Meadow Mt at Deep Creek State Park.
As the vertical profile shows
You can see the first jut up being Backbone above 3000′, then the bowl of Canaan Valley after the 2nd rise, remaining above 3000′, Cabin Mt going over 4000′ and lastly Porte Crayon.
This isn’t the only location you get that view. Head further north in to PA at Mt.Davis and the same will apply.
Without snow on the slopes, the ski area does not stand out as well, but Porte Crayon is still very easy to make out. At over 3200′ and a distance of over 60 miles, non hazy, and fairly clear conditions aid this long view You can see Meadow Mt, Backbone, Canaan/Brown Mt, Canaan Valley, Red Creek and lastly Porte Crayon
Mt.Storm is also visible from Mt.Davis
–
The Mt.Storm power plant, which is a very recognizable location from many locations and distances away with the high stack at the power plant so it’s often a good reference point . The stack can be seen from Martin’s Mt by Rocky Gap with the initial view of the Allegheny Front being in the foreground in front of it
––
even further away on a clear day it can be seen from Green Ridge with a elevation of around 1200′
––
Lots of weather variations occur within these relatively short distances. However, nothing very exciting for the upcoming period from now through Christmas. Some rain pushing in the day after Christmas and later next week things should again go from wet to white. Right now the GFS is putting out a decent upslope event, but being 5-7 days out, much can change.
Review of December 23, 2023
Review of December 23, 2023
Forest Service Cam offline since 6/24/21
Dec 23(Sat)
Cloudy, few areas of brief showers
Bittinger 2nw Valley
Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning Bittinger 2nw Valley morning
Garrett County Airport
Top of Wisp
–
Canaan Heights/Davis 3SE
7am to 7am data mmts BP
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′
Allegheny Mountains Weather 