One for the record books

"It's hard to find anything in the

history books of these types of storms back to back."

- National Weather Service meteorologist Stephen Konarik

There are so many numbers that I could use to quantify just how unusual and severe this past week has been from Washington to New York. I have decided to look at hard hit Baltimore (shown above yesterday). That city normally has 18 inches of snow for the season (less than 50 cm). In back to back storms over the past 4 days they have accumulated over 42 inches of snow. Their seasonal total is now well over 70 inches, more than any other season on record dating back to 1893. The previous record was 63 inches set in 1995-96. Combine that with fierce winds of over 40mph and you have truly a Storm of the Century, maybe the last 2 Centuries. Maryland and New Jersey along with southeast Pennsylvania and Delaware were the hardest hit areas once again from yesterdays storm. Snow totals ranged from 1 to 2 feet for most locations including a foot in New York City. Amounts tapered off quickly north of metro New York into Connecticut as the storm pulled out to sea. Maryland has been in the ideal location for this storm track. Copious moisture pulling in off the Atlantic meeting just enough cold air and strong northerly winds. Schools remain closed statewide today. The federal government is also shut down for the 4th straight day at an estimated cost of 100 million a day in lost revenue (their numbers not mine).

Another storm sliding into the Pacific coast will affect the same region by early next week. Montreal will remain on the far northern edge of this system once again with just flurries and low clouds expected. Our snow drought continues, as we are stuck at 2cm for the month. The reality is that is is colder in Washington D.C. with more snow than most of Canada including fair and warm Vancouver, where a lack of snow is a real problem for the upcoming Olympics. Snow is being trucked in...unreal!