January 29, 2019 Snow Event and January 30th Snow Squall Discussion and Obs

[KamuSnow]

5 minutes ago, Newman said:

I had light snow for about 10 minutes and I thought "Another bust", but then BOOM heavy blinding snow out of nowhere. I measured a legit 1 inch of snow on my cleared off porch. The rates were insane!!! It was well worth the wait. I don't like the looks of the US-222 accident, though. Very unfortunate.

Radar showing a thin line of yellows up your way.

[The Iceman]

Just now, hazwoper said:

not sure if Mt Holly has the ability to call for one yet.  There were only a few offices that were first rolling it out based on the post someone shared earlier

 

gotcha, i saw them issued earlier in western and central pa so I was wondering why they weren't expanded for our area. Seemed like a great way to get the message of danger out there. Thank god this isn't coming in a hour or 2 later...

[sibbley]

https://1drv.ms/v/s!AtHjEP1HrVUulHiM1vQ_gKoB4nGR

A link to a short vid of snow at my work. 

[Eskimo Joe]

Just now, hazwoper said:

not sure if Mt Holly has the ability to call for one yet.  There were only a few offices that were first rolling it out based on the post someone shared earlier

IIRC, it's a nationwide product now in AWIPS.

[Hurricane Agnes]

2 minutes ago, The Iceman said:

 

gotcha, i saw them issued earlier in western and central pa so I was wondering why they weren't expanded for our area. Seemed like a great way to get the message of danger out there. Thank god this isn't coming in a hour or 2 later...

Wasn't sure what the CWA cutoff is regarding where Reading falls but CCX was on the original list for roll-out of it last January.  Don't know what their phase-in schedule is for the rest of the stations but I thought this year was supposedly for all...

Edit - Eskimo Joe confirmed my thoughts!

[hazwoper]

Just now, Hurricane Agnes said:

Wasn't sure what the CWA cutoff is regarding where Reading falls but CCX was on the original list for roll-out of it last January.  Don't know what their phase-in schedule is for the rest of the stations but I thought this year was supposedly for all...

seems silly that Mt Holly wouldn't hoist them here?????

[Hurricane Agnes]

Just now, hazwoper said:

seems silly that Mt Holly wouldn't hoist them here?????

Only other issue is whether what is coming through meets the criteria (was trying to quickly look that up - had read about it awhile ago).

[hazwoper]

Just got the warning on my iPhone!!

[Hurricane Agnes]

Just now, hazwoper said:

Just got the warning on my iPhone!!

Ha!  Warning coming through on my radio.

[penndotguy]

Just now, hazwoper said:

Just got the warning on my iPhone!!

Yeah it took them long enough, Whew hopefully it works

[sibbley]

Just got the warning too!

[penndotguy]

I just got the Alert now, Really its gone now 

[BBasile]

https://www.weather.gov/media/aly/PSAs/SnowSqualls.pdf

 

"Effective on or about November 1, 2018, the NWS will transition a series of products from demonstration to operational status. These products include the highly localized, polygon-based Snow Squall Warnings and Dust Storm Warnings; a new zone-based Blowing Dust Warning; and a new polygon-based Dust Advisory product at all NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFO)."

 

https://www.wnem.com/news/what-is-a-snow-squall-warning/article_5a5c2201-7df8-5763-b746-204bb12a4a7e.html

"It does have to meet a few criteria: A snow squall warning must meet whiteout conditions. That means visibility of a fourth-mile or less. You also need subfreezing road temperatures, which will allow snow to pile up quicker. A snow squall can only last 60 minutes or less. To qualify, it also must cause dangerous, life-threatening travel conditions on the roadways."

[JTA66]

Heavy snow, vis under 1/4 mile, temp down to 28F. Winds have let up, I'm sure the pick up from the west soon. Everything covered again.

[Tibet]

Absolutely ripped through the Easton area. Shortlived but definitely impressive.

[Newman]

Oh no, heard the 222 accident is a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) level 2.

 

MCI Level 2 – Incident will require local resources and responding agencies. Incident may require additional resources within the region.

• Size – 10 to 20 patients
• Hospitals – notification to local hospitals in area near location of incident and/or adjacent city or parishes
• Triage – patients identified as RED, YELLOW, GREEN following START Triage guidelines and primary injury/service needed (LERN may be able to direct patients to specific area emergency departments with appropriate resources in small scale event)
• Communications – primary: phone; secondary: radio. LERN Communication Center will assign a LERN Regional Tactical channel for transport operations when necessary.

[Birds~69]

Snow now....

[RedSky]

Sunny and mild 36F destroying the forecast high
 

[hazwoper]

snow has begun.

so sad about the accident.  

[Hurricane Agnes]

Temp crept up to 33 here but very overcast.  You can feel it coming.

[penndotguy]

Just now, Newman said:

Oh no, heard the 222 accident is a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) level 2.

 

MCI Level 2 – Incident will require local resources and responding agencies. Incident may require additional resources within the region.

• Size – 10 to 20 patients
• Hospitals – notification to local hospitals in area near location of incident and/or adjacent city or parishes
• Triage – patients identified as RED, YELLOW, GREEN following START Triage guidelines and primary injury/service needed (LERN may be able to direct patients to specific area emergency departments with appropriate resources in small scale event)
• Communications – primary: phone; secondary: radio. LERN Communication Center will assign a LERN Regional Tactical channel for transport operations when necessary.

listening to it on the scanner all Patients have been extracted and headed to hospital, traffic is a disaster around here

[Birds~69]

1 minute ago, Tibet said:

Absolutely ripped through the Easton area. Shortlived but definitely impressive.

yep...nuts.

[Birds~69]

fen mess...

[Hurricane Agnes]

Light snow has started here.  Temp down to 32 but getting windy.

Edit now SN+.

 

Snow Squall Warning

SNOW SQUALL WARNING
NWS MOUNT HOLLY NJ
205 PM EST WED JAN 30 2019

DEC003-NJC005-007-015-019-021-033-035-041-PAC011-017-029-045-077-091-095-101-302001-
/O.NEW.KPHI.SQ.W.0001.190130T1905Z-190130T2000Z/
205 PM EST WED JAN 30 2019
New Castle County DE-Burlington County NJ-Camden County NJ-Gloucester
County NJ-Hunterdon County NJ-Mercer County NJ-Salem County
NJ-Somerset County NJ-Warren County NJ-Berks County PA-Bucks County
PA-Chester County PA-Delaware County PA-Lehigh County PA-Montgomery
County PA-Northampton County PA-Philadelphia County PA-

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly NJ has issued a

* Snow Squall Warning for...
Northern New Castle County in northern Delaware...
Northwestern Camden County in southern New Jersey...
Southwestern Warren County in northwestern New Jersey...
Northwestern Mercer County in central New Jersey...
Southwestern Somerset County in northern New Jersey...
Northwestern Salem County in southern New Jersey...
Hunterdon County in northwestern New Jersey...
Northwestern Gloucester County in southern New Jersey...
Northwestern Burlington County in southern New Jersey...
Montgomery County in southeastern Pennsylvania...
Southeastern Berks County in eastern Pennsylvania...
Eastern Lehigh County in eastern Pennsylvania...
Bucks County in southeastern Pennsylvania...
Chester County in southeastern Pennsylvania...
Philadelphia County in southeastern Pennsylvania...
Delaware County in southeastern Pennsylvania...
Southwestern Northampton County in eastern Pennsylvania...

* Until 300 PM EST.

* At 205 PM EST, a dangerous snow squall was located along a line
extending from near Erwinna to Greenville, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Whiteout conditions. Zero visibility in snow and blowing
snow. Wind gusts greater than 30 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Dangerous life-threatening travel.

This will impact portions of Interstate 76, 476, 676, 78, 95, 295
and U.S. routes 22 and 30 and state routes 422, 700

Locations impacted include... Philadelphia, Allentown, Trenton,
Camden, Wilmington, Newark, Easton, West Chester, Somerville,
Gloucester City, Bethlehem, Bensalem, Bridgewater, Ewing,
Norristown, Chester, Deptford, Pottstown, West Deptford and
Glassboro.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Reduce your speed and turn on headlights! During snow squalls, the
visibility may suddenly drop to near zero in whiteout conditions.

There is no safe place on a highway when a snow squall hits.
Visibility and traction are immediately lost in whiteout conditions,
making it difficult or impossible to slow down and avoid stopped
vehicles. Delay travel or safely exit the highway before the snow
squall arrives.

Wet roadways will quickly freeze after passage of the snow squall.
Black ice will cause untreated roads, bridges and overpasses to
become slick and dangerous. Slow down and be prepared for sudden
loss of traction.

LAT...LON 3963 7520 3975 7606 4077 7554 4070 7484
          4059 7457 3963 7520

$$

 

[ChescoWx]

0.5" of new snow in East Nantmeal with a high wind gust of 20mph so far temp is down 8 degrees to 20 since 1pm high of 28.4

[JTA66]

Winding down here now, probably picked up a 1/2 inch. Temp down to 26F. Also sorry to hear about the accident. I imagine there will be plenty of fender benders around the region this afternoon, hopefully nothing more serious than that.

[Hurricane Agnes]

White out.  Vis < 1/8 mile.  Temp down to 31.

[KamuSnow]

Well worth the wait!

2 pics - one as it was getting started, the other about 10 minutes later, mid-squall. The large trees in the background are about 250 to 300 feet away, which you can't really see in the mid-squall pic.

Good stuff!

 

[Hurricane Agnes]

At ~ 0.5" (more than what I got yesterday) and the winds have subsided a bit.  Currently SN.  Temp down to 29 and falling.

[Lady Di]

Awesome Kamu!  the disappearing evergreen!