January 24-26: Miracle or Mirage OBS Thread!

[BTRWx's Thanks Giving]

Anyone along the southern beltway have updated measurements I can compare to? I measured a 6.6" base in Alexandria.

[Snowciopathic Snow Bro]

Home Depot and Lowes gonna have to start marketing sleetblowers instead of snowblowers now.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

1 minute ago, SomeguyfromTakomaPark said:

I prob had 5 inches of snow and at least now 2 of sleet, rip sleet for another 6 hours lol 

That's probably about what I have in Bethesda/Silver Spring, I guess the same general area as you.  Went out a short while ago and just did a snow depth measurement (no actual snowboard that was cleared, etc.) and it was in the range of 6-7" in various open, flat areas.  So given that there's probably been a fair bit of settling with moderate to heavy sleet for the past few hours, I'd probably lean toward ~7" total snow/sleet.  Hard to walk in, a real workout!  Like walking on sand.

[WEATHER53]

9 minutes ago, TowsonWeather said:

Welp, looks like ORD in Chicago got 1-2 inches of snow based on reports from surrounding neighborhoods.

Is it ok to laugh at Uccinelli now?

 

 

All those  emphatic I’m out statements made last night.  Right now the DC beltway region and 30 miles in any direction is ranging 4” minimum , 6-8” generally and 9” max. It’s been bone dry sleeting at0.5”ph for 5+ hours and continuing 

This is a 8.5-9 on scale of 10 weather event

[peribonca]

Like walking on ball bearings. Crazy amount of sleet in Colonial Beach. Hope we don't flip to fzra later. This stuff takes forever to melt even with mild temps... We're going to keep "snow cover" for a long long time.

[diatae]

I know every storm is unique but wow what a unique storm this is. I have swept a sleet path off the deck hourly and it's covered again within minutes each time. The driveway is gone again too. 

[Stormchaserchuck1]

Another picture

[SomeguyfromTakomaPark]

1 minute ago, Scarlet Pimpernel said:

That's probably about what I have in Bethesda/Silver Spring, I guess the same general area as you.  Went out a short while ago and just did a snow depth measurement (no actual snowboard that was cleared, etc.) and it was in the range of 6-7" in various open, flat areas.  So given that there's probably been a fair bit of settling with moderate to heavy sleet for the past few hours, I'd probably lean toward ~7" total snow/sleet.  Hard to walk in, a real workout!  Like walking on sand.

Cool event.  
 

even nyc is sleeting now but whoever stays all snow is gonna have some gaudy totals 

[bncho]

1 minute ago, WEATHER53 said:

All those  emphatic I’m out statements made last night.  Right now the DC beltway region and 30 miles in any direction is ranging 4” minimum , 6-8” generally and 9” max. It’s been bone dry sleeting at0.5”ph for 5+ hours and continuing 

Thus is a 8.5-9 on scale of 10 weather event

8.4” out where I am. I have just been under the bands all the time today!

[WEATHER53]

6 minutes ago, Snowciopathic Snow Bro said:

If my furnace could talk it'd be saying:

Speaking of furnaces my gas fired is set at 71 and on for 12 minutes then off for 15 and repeat cycle. How about others?

[AmericanWxFreak]

Everyone laughed at him, so he worked the NAM up to screw us

I used to look up to the guy, now I’ll just have a bad taste in my mouth when I see the name. SMH.

[NattyBo]

Jebwalk pics.

 

 

Our little branch of rock creek is freezing over!

[Alfoman]

Pixie flakes in the middle of pouring sleet in DC proper...just an absolutely wild storm

My hips are on fire after a long morning Jebwalk...this stuff is not an easy stroll 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

1 minute ago, WEATHER53 said:

All those  emphatic I’m out statements made last night.  Right now the DC beltway region and 30 miles in any direction is ranging 4” minimum , 6-8” generally and 9” max. It’s been bone dry sleeting at0.5”ph for 5+ hours and continuing 

Thus is a 8.5-9 on scale of 10 weather event

I'd generally agree on the winter event scale.  While not a HECS with 20"+ snow, it's obviously very high-impact and it won't be disappearing anytime soon (making the impact even greater).  The amount of sleet on top of the snow is insane.  And it is "dry" sleet (if that's a thing), not the kind that clings together on the ground.  It almost literally blows around with a gust of wind (or walking through it).  I'm sure that will freeze solid at some point.

[BTRWx's Thanks Giving]

Maybe the globals weren't so bad after all when you include the sleet with the snow maps. 

[ErinInTheSky]

Wave after wave of yellow returns in Gaithersburg. This is going to be a memorable storm y'all.

[wxmeddler]

KNHK (Pax River NAS) is reporting -FZRA. It begins.

[yoda]

Anyone know last time the three major airports went below zero actual temperature?  Thinking we have a few nights upcoming where we will do so.  

[Snowciopathic Snow Bro]

1 minute ago, WEATHER53 said:

Speaking of furnaces my gas fired is set at 71 and on for 12 minutes then off for 15 and repeat cycle. How about others?

Mine is set at 73 and it's running for 45 minutes every hour.  I've got a damper issue (can't access it without destroying a ceiling) that is shunting a lot of the air up to the 2nd story, plus the thermostat is mounted on the wall to the garage.  Not exactly the ideal gas law here.

[csnavywx]

Freezing rain and 27 degrees here. Only 3 hours til sunset, wind has shifted northwest. 0.5-0.75 of liquid to go. Wish me luck. If we can't break above 30 before dark, it's going to get nasty here.

[Bob Chill]

Dryslot finally made it. Temp climbed a degree to 20. Shoveled my deck and it was like a pan of stale brownies lol. Sleetcake. Big slug looming to my sw. P-type TBD but I sure hope it's more sleet...

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Just now, yoda said:

Anyone know last time the three major airports went below zero actual temperature?  Thinking we have a few nights upcoming where we will do so.  

Not sure about all 3.  I'd have to think DCA will be hard-pressed to go below 0.  Maybe single digits but you know how that location is right on the water.  But one never knows.  This is a serious airmass and we'll have snow/sleet cover with plenty of cooling at night once this has cleared through.  Nearby DCA in the metro area?  I can definitely see a possibility for that.

[MillvilleWx]

2 hours ago, eyewall said:

The scene this morning from Herndon (had to get LAANC clearance)

Just now seeing this. This is an unbelievable shot. Great work my man! 

[SnowenOutThere]

Looking like I'll get dryslotted in the next hour after heavy sleet showers. Measured 5in of snow/sleet. Wonder if I'll get any freezing rain.

[WEATHER53]

5 minutes ago, Scarlet Pimpernel said:

I'd generally agree on the winter event scale.  While not a HECS with 20"+ snow, it's obviously very high-impact and it won't be disappearing anytime soon (making the impact even greater).  The amount of sleet on top of the snow is insane.  And it is "dry" sleet (if that's a thing), not the kind that clings together on the ground.  It almost literally blows around with a gust of wind (or walking through it).  I'm sure that will freeze solid at some point.

I don’t think the sleet balls will ever clump together as it’s 20 or less so nothing slick about them and there won’t be for days 

[RandyHolt]

I just realized what I thought was drifting off of my roof... is actually a sleet avalanche.  That is not going to stop anytime soon.

[BTRWx's Thanks Giving]

2 minutes ago, SnowenOutThere said:

Looking like I'll get dryslotted in the next hour after heavy sleet showers. Measured 5in of snow/sleet. Wonder if I'll get any freezing rain.

That seems kind of low if you are in Fairfax.  

[diatae]

Starting to see dimpling in the sleet-snow cover. I think freezing rain is here. (La Plata)  Still pouring sleet too.

[EHoffman]

Just now, BTRWx's Thanks Giving said:

That seems kind of low if you are in Fairfax.  

He's in Charlottesville.

[adelphi_sky]

2 minutes ago, diatae said:

Starting to see dimpling in the sleet-snow cover. I think freezing rain is here. (La Plata) 

Now comes the icing on the proverbial cake to fuse a nice thick layer on top of the snow making it tougher to shovel.