January 24-26: Miracle or Mirage OBS Thread!

[T. August]

1 hour ago, mappy said:

lol @WxUSAF

10.3 depth?? 
also, the weather notes from yesterday: no way they didn’t flip to sleet until 1pm. I was sleeting by 10am 

Does something like that get tossed or will it be officially recorded? That is absurd.

[Kay]

1 minute ago, T. August said:

Does something like that get tossed or will it be officially recorded? That is absurd.

Re: our hood, I'm having FOMO about recording 9" lol. I think you are the 10.1" spotter, right? And the Abingdon spotter is now at 10.8". I only measured twice, did you measure more often? also my sleet measurement was for shit, it was a mess.

[Bob Chill]

The place we live in has gravel roads and they don't plow because it wrecks the gravel base. Spent the last hour driving my truck around packing in tracks. What a blast but it sure isn't snow lol. It was more like compressing hot asphalt. My tires barely left tread marks. It's hilly here so I have a hunch that no 4wd vehicle (without chains) will be able to pull the hills tomorrow AM when everything sets like concrete. 

Our land is gravel road access too and our gravel drive is a solid hill. Didn't bother messing with that today but should be fun/interesting tomorrow 

[nj2va]

Wisp reporting 19" storm total - with another 2-4" of upslope today.  

[Stebo]

18 hours ago, Terpeast said:

How they roll I guess. Assuming they just stuck a ruler in the ground close to the river. 

Hi, so this isn't to stir up anything but I just wanted to address this post and a couple others. I know there have been issues in the past at DCA but the current SWO there isn't the one from the past. The current SWO is a former coworker of mine who I helped train to observe. I trust his number fully as he worked 2 shifts over the weekend as well. The microclimate of the Potomac River Valley does play here though. I wouldn't expect DCA to have as high of a value as IAD or BWI considering their locations. I just wanted to help address this issue a bit since I know some of the information and I have seen what has been done there in the past with respect to snow measuring. 

[T. August]

Just now, Kay said:

Re: our hood, I'm having FOMO about recording 9" lol. I think you are the 10.1" spotter, right? And the Abingdon spotter is now at 10.8". I only measured twice, did you measure more often? also my sleet measurement was for shit, it was a mess.

I cleared once at 10:00am, then again at 5:00pm or so. Technically, my 10.1 is a tenth or 2 too low. My actual snow total was 6.7”. Sleet was at minimum 3.5”, but I screwed up my hourlies and didn’t fix it lmao. You’re good for 10.0”.

Peak depth was 8.5” during dumping sleet so that lends credibility to 10”+ too.

[mappy]

14 minutes ago, T. August said:

Does something like that get tossed or will it be officially recorded? That is absurd.

No idea. But I agree it’s absurd 

[psuhoffman]

Not grading my last minute adjustment as the storm started for many by then. This is the one I put out 2 days before. I think 90% ended up within the ranges. BWI busted high by 1”.  I was too high along the southeast fringes.  I’m ok with this. 

[Kay]

5 minutes ago, T. August said:

I cleared once at 10:00am, then again at 5:00pm or so. Technically, my 10.1 is a tenth or 2 too low. My actual snow total was 6.7”. Sleet was at minimum 3.5”, but I screwed up my hourlies and didn’t fix it lmao. You’re good for 10.0”.

Peak depth was 8.5” during dumping sleet so that lends credibility to 10”+ too.

Thanks, this is helpful! 10" seems more correct. 

[T. August]

Just now, Kay said:

Thanks, this is helpful! 10" seems more correct. 

You got it. Our largest storm since 2016! Definitely pumped lol.

[Kay]

2 minutes ago, T. August said:

You got it. Our largest storm since 2016! Definitely pumped lol.

WE BROKE THE CURSE DUDE

[Hyphnx]

Light snow in Chester, VA

[WEATHER53]

27 minutes ago, Stebo said:

Hi, so this isn't to stir up anything but I just wanted to address this post and a couple others. I know there have been issues in the past at DCA but the current SWO there isn't the one from the past. The current SWO is a former coworker of mine who I helped train to observe. I trust his number fully as he worked 2 shifts over the weekend as well. The microclimate of the Potomac River Valley does play here though. I wouldn't expect DCA to have as high of a value as IAD or BWI considering their locations. I just wanted to help address this issue a bit since I know some of the information and I have seen what has been done there in the past with respect to snow measuring. 

This is crap about any micro climate warming DCA or decreasing snowfall during a raging snow and sleet storm . Let’s see if you do know something.  Give me initials of the last mic at DCA.  I can tell you he told me that it’s an FAA facility not a NWS one so they don’t exit the facility to do any measuring.  The use a melt down device from outside the office and apply the ratio they believe us accurate 

 

[Fozz]

I fully trust that DCA has accurate and reliable snow measurements.

What I disagree with is the notion that DCA is in any way representative of the region when it comes to snowfall. It is a zero elevation warm spot on a river and in the midst of the DC heat island. That’s why their snow totals are what they are.

[Stebo]

11 minutes ago, WEATHER53 said:

This is crap about any micro climate warming DCA or decreasing snowfall during a raging snow and sleet storm . Let’s see if you do know something.  Give me initials of the last mic at DCA.  I can tell you he told me that it’s an FAA facility not a NWS one so they don’t exit the facility to do any measuring.  The use a melt down device from outside the office and apply the ratio they believe us accurate 

 

The last SWO at DCA was MR and you are incorrect here. They actually hand measure snow. 

[Stebo]

7 minutes ago, Fozz said:

I fully trust that DCA has accurate and reliable snow measurements.

What I disagree with is the notion that DCA is in any way representative of the region when it comes to snowfall.

It is a zero elevation warm spot on a river and in the midst of the DC heat island. That’s why their snow totals are what they are.

Correct Fozz, it's like my snow totals in SEMI vs where the White Lake office is. There is a higher elevation away from the water.

[katabatic]

55 minutes ago, nj2va said:

Wisp reporting 19" storm total - with another 2-4" of upslope today.  

It's been snowing steadily all day long. True, it's fluff but still beautiful and accumulating. I find it amazing they got 19" just a few miles north of me (I recorded 8.5", mostly sleet). Wisp slopes are now in the best shape by far in my 4 winters here. Anyone thinking of coming to Wisp or Timberline to ski or tube, this is the time to do it.

[wxdude64]

2 hours ago, mappy said:

lol @WxUSAF

10.3 depth?? 
also, the weather notes from yesterday: no way they didn’t flip to sleet until 1pm. I was sleeting by 10am 

 

2 hours ago, WxUSAF said:

15.7" total snowfall 

LOL

 

2 hours ago, mappy said:

It’s so lol 

 

1 hour ago, T. August said:

Does something like that get tossed or will it be officially recorded? That is absurd.

 

1 hour ago, mappy said:

No idea. But I agree it’s absurd 

I JUST got off the phone with NWS Blacksbug. They were trying to confirm what happened in this area this weekend. I gave them my totals, what was on the ground now and what types of precip I had. And WHY would they call you ask? Well, Covington CO-OP (who is notorious for reporting either low or not at all) reported 3.4 inches yesterday 0.0 today and 4 OTG this morning. So they INCREASED OTG but reported no new snow. Then Hot Springs CO-OP (which usually does a great job) reported 7.0 yesterday with 7.0 OTG, then 8.0 this morning with 8.0 OTG (I'm guessing they oopsied and put OTG for new snow too). 

BTW- I'm the 4.1 E Covington

[Kay]

2 hours ago, Kay said:

I waited till today to shovel and it's not unmanageable, just a bit slow. Just dug out the car and some of the driveway, which thankfully is flat and not super long. Going back out in a bit. Sun was a help with the car once the snow pack on it was loosened up. I've been going at it kind of primitively...cleaned around the car by stomping on the pack with a foot and either kicking the chunks away or lifting and tossing away by hand (thick waterproof gloves ftw). No shovel involved lol. When not stomping the glacier I'm using a hammer to break the crust. Once underneath it's soft and not difficult to shovel. Feels pretty good out there my god I love snow!!! Bring me more!

Just finished driveway round two and done. Still using only a hammer and snow shovel lol. I was actually impressed at how handy the hammer was with busting up or slicing away/removing the ice crust. Lighter and easier for me than jabbing at it with a metal shovel.

After my labors I tested out the snowpack. Broke through occasionally but was mostly able to walk on top! Instant being a kid again!! This is after a high of 26 and sun, it can only get better.

[Miss Pixee]

1 hour ago, Fozz said:

I fully trust that DCA has accurate and reliable snow measurements.

What I disagree with is the notion that DCA is in any way representative of the region when it comes to snowfall. It is a zero elevation warm spot on a river and in the midst of the DC heat island. That’s why their snow totals are what they are.

the downtown core doesn't rep the whole city either...its a bowl. Low in the center with elevation as you go NW or SE. And DC has a helluva lot more green than some other cities.

[ThePhotoGuy]

Surprised at how good the roads in Pasadena are. Side streets are snow packed but very manageable and main roads are blacktop and dried out.