After issuing a winter storm watch for Frederick County yesterday, the National Weather Service upgraded the watch to a winter storm warning early Tuesday morning, March 5. Middletown could conceivably receive between 8 and 13 inches of snow.
The NWS is calling for up to a foot of snow in parts of the county, especially the western zone. According to the warning, at least eight inches could plaster the county. The Middletown, Mysersville, Wolfsville communities may see some of the county’s highest snowfall totals by morning on Thursday, March 7.
According to a meteorological discussion by the NWS in Sterling, Va., “significant snow” will cross the Blue Ridge Mountains between midnight and 1 a.m. The main concern vexing local meteorologists has been surface temperatures. While temperatures may hover between 33 and 36 degrees, the influx of snow should drive them down.
“THE MORE INTENSE SNOW FALLS…THE QUICKER THESE TEMPS WILL THEN START TO DROP TOWARD FREEZING. WHILE THIS IS OCCURRING DURING THE LATE AFTN/EVE HRS WED…THE LOW WILL BE MOVING OFF THE COAST AND DRAGGING THE SNOW BANDS WITH IT,” reads the bulletin on noaa.gov.
Models last night continued to indicate a pounding for the D.C. metro area, especially points west. A meteorologist from the Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang summed up one of the models, the GFS, by saying that the run “was pretty darn good” for snow lovers.
In addition to bands of heavy snow throughout the day on Wednesday, March 6, strong winds will sweep across the area, reducing visibilities and causing potential power outages. With the snow already wet, power lines can easily snap.
Light snow is forecasted to continue past midnight Thursday morning, finally leaving the area after 1 a.m. Temperatures on Thursday will rise to around 40 degrees.
The NWS urges motorists take extreme precautions if venturing out Wednesday.
“ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL…KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT…FOOD…AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY,” read the bulletin.
Monitor local forecasts throughout the day as updates become available. Here are a few resources to check out:
