UPDATE 7 AM: Widespread 5 to 9 inch snowfall will quickly start melting into memory
TODAY’S WEATHER JOURNAL COLUMN: Warm winter couldn’t hold off a snowfall
UPDATE 7AM: Linked here is a list of snowfall reports from around the National 
Weather Service-Blacksburg’s forecast area. As you look at these, keep in mind the reporting times on each amount — some are as early as 5 p.m. Sunday, so you know those got added to. Official snowfall amounts locally included 5.5 inches for Roanoke (WDBJ, Channel 7 studios), 6.8 inches for Blacksburg (National Weather Service office) and 7.7 inches at Lynchburg (regional airport). There was some variance by elevation, but overall, a uniform 5 to 9 inch snowfall. Highest report in the list linked above was 9.8 inches at a location east of Covington in Alleghany County, so it appears no spot broke double-digits, at least on the weather service list. Appalachian Power is reporting more than 55, 000 customers without power in its Virginia-West Virginia service area, including about 8,000 in Roanoke County/Roanoke city, The fact that a deep freeze is not anticipated, and in fact, a springlike warming trend starting this week will be some consolation to those starting this normally cold February morning without heat. (Inset photo courtesy of blog commenter “Forest Blurker” from the Penn Forest area of southwest Roanoke County). END UPDATE
There are still some moderate patches within the remaining light snow area that is slowly diminishing. So some spots could still add an inch or two to totals that generally range from 5 to 9 inches across much of the our region. It appears the early Saturday modeling and forecasts verified a little better than the late Saturday and early Sunday ones did, with the larger amounts spread farther north across our region.
When the snow ends, several sunny, progressively warming days are in the offing, which will make quick work of the snow. The snowpack may hold temperatures down quite a bit on Monday, when it may struggle to get into the low-mid 40s, but growing warm air advection from the southwest through the middle part of the week is likely to send highs into the 50s Tuesday, maybe a few 60s by Wednesday and widespread 60s — maybe a 70-degree reading? — by Thursday.
I will have more of a recap on this snow event in the next day or two. There are many interesting aspects. It doesn’t quite enter the hall of fame with the monster wallop snows of ’93, ’96 and ’09, to name a few, but I think February 19, 2012, will be a long-remembered and much-recalled weather date for a long time in Southwest Virginia.
February 19, 2012 - 11:08 PM
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Thanks Kevin for keeping us all happily involved with the weather,whether or not we like what we get. (pun intended) just under 6″ in Woodlawn and it sure did make some great snow cream!! Hope everyone enjoyed their day in the snow and all are safe.
You’ve had a busy week Kevin, an amazing 1,750 comments were posted during the seven day time-frame of Monday-Sunday. Now go get some rest and enjoy the snow day!
Great thoughts, clarkdocvet, and on behalf of the Snow Haters Club, thanks for all you do. If you posted any comment about your fun with the family and the 2-year-old playing in the snow, I missed it among the hundreds of comments here since this afternooon. Anyway, I have a youtube song in honor your son’s first real outing in a deep snow. I know, some of the lyrics don’t fit, but the title sure does. By Foreigner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfO7ZVdzfZ4
Oops, another senior moment by me. I omitted the word “Kevin” at the end of the first sentence. And thanks to you, clarketc. for being a veterinarian.
Thanks again for getting through another storm! We are right at 8 inches on top of our little mountain (2022 feet) out here in Elliston and that’s probably my last measurement for tonight. Time to get to bed so I can get up and play with the kids in the snow tomorrow!
I just thought of something. In each of the past three winters, INCLUDING this one, the primary impact of the winter through at least early February was reversed in a major way at some point between (roughly) February 10th-11th and March 6th. What on earth am I talking about? Well, go back down memory lane to early March, 2010. The entire winter from Dec. 18th through March 6th had been very cold and snowy, except for a brief respite in roughly mid-January. Suddenly March 6th comes, and somebody turns up the heat like you wouldn’t believe. I have reviewed what happened during the next 30 days and more plenty of times, so I will leave it at that. Winter ended VERY abruptly on 3-7-10. Last winter the primary focus was how cold the winter had been throughout December and January and roughly the first 10-11 days of February, when someone again turned on the heat. And then the main feature of this winter up until today was how warm and generally snowless it had been, and then POW, a pretty big snowstorm. Moral of the story: if you don’t like the winter weather through early Feb., hang in there, a big change is very likely, one more to your liking!!! Unfortunately for you snow lovers, this very much looks like it will be a “one-and-done” deal. More in a separate comment.
Thanks Kevin; your knowledge of the weather and enlightening comments and weather information make for the best blog on the news beat. Keep up the good work.
Kevin,
I appreciate all you’ve done keeping us informed throughout this storm.
The two major oscillations, the AAO and the BAD, NAUGHTY, EVIL, WICKED (LOL) NAO are BOTH expected to be in positive territory through the next two weeks. The NAO has been uncooperative all winter for you snow lovers, and now is expected to slowly drift even more positive. And the AO, which had been negative from roughly Jan. 20th through Feb. 10, is now in positive area and expected to get even more positive. And both the 6-10 day and 8-14 day CPC outlook maps confirm this. I will give it a couple more weeks to see if an unforeseen downturn in NAO reverses its trend heading into March, but this quick jolt of real winter weather may be it. Right now an early spring seems very likely. Thank heavens that the tree blossoms did not come out super early. I saw a tree while delivering mail on Saturday that had big buds on it, ready to pop out with just a couple of more warm days,
Still another typo. 6th word in above comment should be “AO”, not “AAO.” AAO is also a valid acronym for another oscillation, the AntArctic Oscillation.
I just cleared the front deck and driveway, and we picked up just shy of 8.5″ so far, still snowing and accumulating a bit. We will probably come close to 9″ total in New River, eastern Pulaski County. If the early stuff had not melted so much, we probably would have easily been in the double digits. This snow was dense and heavy like the last February snow/sleet/ice storm in the 09/10 winter…it would not surprise me if the liquid water equivalent is over an inch.
Bedtime.
Officially, according to my standards, which are pretty low, base of Bent Mt. on my deck has a slight smidgen less than 9 inches, averaged from about 5 measurements. It’s STILL snowing, although the flakes are getting a bit larger. Radar indicates snow for another half hour or so, so we’ll call it a solid 9 inches. Thanks to Kevin and everyone else for a most entertaining and informative day!
Kevin,
I sure do appreciate this blog, thanks for all you do to make it so addicting! We have been keeping you busy, almost 283 comments just in the last thread! It is fitting that our prolific postal poster, Mr. Doug Griggs, had the last post.
Still snowing here, has it even stopped here over the past twelve hours, I wonder.
9.6 inches so far on the snowboard. I also measured on the open grass areas and found the snow depth to be an even 9 inches everywhere but there is compacting/melting that takes it down from the snowboard total. Someone asked about railings and I only measured 7.5 tops on any of them and it was up to 11.5 just below the roof line but never count those measurements as they are inflated from the “tall object effect.” Wind has been pretty calm all day except for slight wind during the whiteout periods.
Off to bed now.
Clark, what part of the county are you located in, I’m between Fancy Gap and Hillsville and just measured 7″ on the dot.
Above, I posted a link to Foreigner’s “Feels Like the First Time.” Judging from the current radar, it looks like I have witnessed a snow band coming through so that “It Feels Like the Last Time!!” For this storm, that is. Who gets my vote for having the worst forecast within 48 hours of the event? The National Weather Service, for forecasting zero accumulations here in my zip as late as Friday afternoon. Dave Tolleris’s snow map forecasting 15 inches for the area around Waynesboro would be 2nd worst.
Finally this snowstorm is over for Roanoke County. Even if the temps only get into the low 40s here tomorrow, my driveway may be clear by 5 PM. Bright, bright sunshine called for by the TWC hourly forecast, zero chance of precip. My turn to shout out … Yippee!! My driveway sheds snow like crazy when the sun comes out …. especially now that it’s late February. 11 hours of daylight tomorrow.
Thanks Kevin for keeping us informed about the latest of this system. It’s been a fun & wild winter ride with bunches of snow, again, thank you.
A grand total of 7 inches here in the Elett Valley! Yes Doug, I was definitely excited about the 3 way playoff…too bad Mickelson couldn’t pull out another one but it was very exciting! I always want playoffs in golf; it makes it special! Congrats to Bill Haas!
Now Doug (and Kevin for that matter as well), I know the oscillations have been against us, but if the NAO flips in 2-3 weeks, will it be too late? And this storm had the oscillations against it and it pulled a rabbit out of the hat! I’m just saying the snow isn’t done until it’s done. Light snow events are still possible in March and April and we could have a March 30, 2003 event! Who knows? A storm could time a cold pocket just right.
So Kevin, that leads me to ask you, what are your thoughts on the rest of this winter? I’m assuming we’ll see more snow or at least this won’t be the last time we see snowflakes…as to a big storm like this, not so sure. Is it possible to still get a lighter event from here on out?
And Kevin, again, thanks for everything. This blog is so well run and it is handled marvelously! Everything about it is great! You are very knowledgeable!
Total snowfall for old southwest in Roanoke 5.5 inches
Around 9″ at my house on Rivermont in Lynchburg.
Just wanted to add my thanks, Kevin. I mostly lurk, but have followed your blog since the beginning. It’s a beautifully quiet morning this morning; most of the snow is still on all the trees. My older dogs didn’t appreciate it, looks like it’ll be a couch day for them today. Still haven’t decided if I’m going to make the trek to Bburg or if I’ll just work from home today.
Kevin: Thanks for the constant updates and all the work you did yesterday. I know you typically stay away from the blog on Sundays, so I know you made some sacrifices to keep things going. Now get some rest!
With a little more overnight, I’ll claim a grand total of 9.5 inches.
Off to work…………..
Kevin- Do you have the “offical” totals for Blacksburg and Roanoke in yet (could not find on the NWS site this morning)? Also, what was the highest total in the area you could find? Looked like 9.8″ in Covington, but I may have missed something. Great job, and thanks!
I’ve done much shoveling this morning. Concrete and asphalt are still wet under the snow. Makes clearing off much easier. Even the gravel looks wet. I think I have less snow this morning than at midnight, like it has been settling.
8 1/2″ on da Knob. Once the melting is factored in, this was a fairly general 12″ snow for all areas around here.
6.5 inches in Salem (Glenvar). Now that we’ve had our “winter,” looking forward to spring!
Several points about this snow. I know, if a frog had wings, he wouldn’t bump his backside. With the right temps in place at the start, this would have easily been one for the books due t the melt/ratio factor. The intensity is the only reason we got as much as we did. Now that everybody’s got their wish, let’s get on with spring. And as far as timing, there couldn’t have been a more ideal time for it to come. Holiday tomorrow, very few folks having to go out yesterday, warm weather in the forecast. If this had hit on Friday, can you imagine what the commute home from work would have been like during the height of the storm. Scary thought. Minor inconvience, kids are happy, teachers are happy and plow operators are tickled for what was looking like a barren season. Yep, I’d have to rate this “THE PERFECT STORM”.
Also, for those who attend church, be prepared to dig in your pocket twice next Sunday since every church east of Bristol canceled Sunday services. Serious revenue loss there folks.
Thank you Kevin, for keeping us so well informed over the past week. Now, time to enjoy a snow day!
Based on liquid equivalent reports, I don’t think it would have been a foot without the melting. Roanoke reported 0.64 inch, Blacksburg 0.84. There have been some studies suggesting reporting stations tend to underreport official rainfall equivalent during larger snow events, but I don’t think you’d find the 0.4 to 0.6 more needed for a foot of snow in that. That said, most locations probably lost 2-3 inches from early melting/melting from underneath. Roanoke officially only dropped to 32 degrees at the very last moment of Sunday — literally 11:59 p.m. — so had an air temperature slightly above freezing throughout the snowfall. Classic “wet snow” event, more akin to late March or April than February.
Imagine this snow on fully leafed trees. That’s why the Northeast had so many downed trees and power outages in that late October snowstorm.
A total of about 6 inches here in Woodlawn, VA. Really pretty to look at this morning with the sun shining now!…7:45 a.m.
We topped out at 8.4″ of snow, the overnight stuff only added about a tenth of an inch of additional accumulation. Liquid equivalent was 0.86 at my house. The first 2-3″ of snow was the heavy wet stuff that melted quite a lot, but the last 5+ inches was more powdery snow with a higher ratio. Had that been the snow that fell through the whole storm, we probably could have approached double-digits, but as it is, I’m just glad we got that much. It just about doubled our precipitation total for the month, which is again dry like every February has been for the past several years.
I’m really glad that sun and warm temps return today. The typical high winds and bone-chilling temperatures that traditionally follow most storms take all the fun out of a snow day.
Kevin, thanks bunches for all you have done this past week and weekend – You went above and beyond in my book – A+ for you.
Very bright and sunny morning up here on the ridge. Time to start shoveling out. Everyone enjoy your time playing in the snow – this just might be it for the winter.
Indian Valley John – sorry to hear that you were “under the weather” but glad to read that you are feeling better.
Kevin, do you know if WDBJ clears their snowboard every 6 hours and adds the totals for total snowfall or just uses final snow depth? I am wondering because in Lynchburg I think WSET just uses the final snow depth on the snowboard without clearing. I could be wrong about that but I thought someone posted that one time.
Here in Bedford at my house we had 7 inches of snow on a snowboard I used for depth and 7.6 inches total snowfall on one I cleared every 6 hours.
Thanks Kevin. We appreciate YOU.
The total for our location on Bent Mountain was just a “hair” over 9″ last night before we went to bed.
Our dog, a Corgi, has about a 4″ clearance, so he’s been like a small, furry snowplow pushing snow everywhere. He loves it, too! Now, if I could just convince him to plow paths where I want to go…
Kevin, thank you, THANK YOU for all your great work on the blog. You, once again, have been right on!
And also thanks, everyone else. It’s been fun to read comments and know what other areas have been getting.
Fortunately, we can work from home today and continue enjoying the snow. It’s really beautiful up here in our neck of the woods.
Donnie: I think they clear the snowboard every 6 hours at WDBJ. I know their reports to NWS are a series of 6-hour reports that are added up. I can double-check on that.
For those wondering — this was the biggest snow in the region since Feb. 5-6, 2010. Roanoke and Blacksburg both topped 9 inches in that one, and 8-12 was common across the area — the third of the Big 3 snows in the most recent “big winter.”
We finished up with 9in total of snow. Thanks Kevin for all you do. Been reading this blog since 2009 but never commented until yesterday. Maybe with some magic I can help in the future in breaking Sammy s anti snow spell. Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful day
I just read your 2:06 A.M. comment, Nick, and you are right on both counts. Yeah, there is still time for the NAO to make an abrupt and extremely late about-face. And there could be another special event like yesterday’s, too, especially during this part of winter and extremely early spring. I am just saying that the odds are even more against it now, because of the way the two oscillations are supposedly heading. And don’t forget that if the NAO or at least AO doesn’t take a nosedive, this crazy old letter carrier will have another prediction “crash and burn.” I forecasted an extremely cold March. That looks even more unlikely to me than getting one more snow event.
Randy: Does it take an Oakey to beat an Oakey?
Thanks Kevin, I was just wondering so I could see how my snowfall measurements compare with the official reporting stations
I’ll talk more about this later, but I think there’s about a 60 percent chance this is a one-hit wonder for widespread 4-plus type snow this winter. It took perfect timing and coordination of multiple factors in an unfavorable pattern to make this snow happen. And the pattern is getting less conducive to Arctic cold and snow. Probably some upslope snow events left with brief cold shots — even next weekend is possible on that.
You can never say never though. A March pattern change or another short-term setup like this weekend could always happen.
Citing Doug’s football metaphor from last night, about the snow lovers scoring a late touchdown to make the score respectable — Doug and his fellow snow haters better make sure they recover the onside kick and run out the clock!
Donnie: I also think Lynchburg Regional Airport is the official snow measuring site, not WSET, though I’m sure WSET reports their totals, too. Can double-check on that, too.
For those of you who did not check the blog after 9:50 PM last night, this “Prolific postal poster” (I got a LOL out of that, Indian Valley John!! TYVM) posted a couple that may be of interest to some of you (all on previous thread). Nurse Snow and any snow lovers, you might enjoy what I posted at 9:56 PM, comment 260. Another one, No. 275 at 10:45 PM, comparing local snow amounts to what my longtime friends the Macintoshes have received since Halloween …. that one is a real shocker. Another a couple of minutes after 10:45, when I admitted “surrender.” And finally a big congratulations to all the zillion snow lovers on this blog at 10:53, comment 278.
OK, Nurse Snow, summon up Freddie Mercury from youtube now. If you don’t do it, I will later today. I recommend providing the link to a youtube video made by Didsterxx, 3 minutes and 28 seconds long.
Hey, if any of you are off work this morning, like us fortunate postal and school employees, and you want to take some pictures, do not delay. The trees in the back of my house are in the sun and shedding snow like crazy.
Here’s something to watch today: Snow cover on visibile satellite
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/wfo/rnk/vis-l.jpg
Oh wow, how cool is that Kevin (9:04 comment). My husband and I have been busy making a path in the yard for our elderly shelties to do their business, and taking lots of photos before the sun/wind knocks the snow off of the trees and shrubs around the house. I had not cut back the echinacea stalks around the house, and the wet snow created 3″ snowcones on top of the old blooms. Beautiful fairy land out there this morning. Snow-covered camelia bushes in bloom are a real treat to see. We bought a Sno Wovel 2 winters ago and it had not snowed enough since then to try it out on our steep driveway. At last, a Wovel-worthy snow! Looks like we got between 7 and 8 inches in the ridge, factoring in some compaction.
We ended up with barely under 6 inches just south of I-64 in C’ville. Read that the official Roanoke measurement at the airport was 5.5 inches; never would have imagined that we’d get slightly more here than there (though I’m sure the higher elevations of Roanoke county got 6+). Parts of the Waynesboro/Staunton area received 8-9 inches which again was a surprise since the moisture wasn’t supposed to reach this far north. Judging by the radar last night alone, points just north of Charlottesville, Staunton and such received little to no snow.
While I am still a devoted member of the anti-snow sect, I have to say that the sun on the snow this morning was gorgeous! I join the masses in saying a big “thank you” to the Kelvinator for all his work on the blog. Between Twitter and the Weather Blog, I didn’t even turn my TV on yesterday except for the 8 AM DBJ News. Great job to both him and all the commenters who add so much to this terrific forum.
Our final total was 7 inches in Goodview. We took some pics yesterday at the lake during the meat of the storm. You couldn’t even see across the water. Unfortunately (or fortunately sometimes) I have to work no matter what so wasn’t able to get down there to take any daytime pics before it’s all melted away today.
It probably will be a one hit wonder as a widespread 4+ inch snow event and it’s possible this could be the last and only measureable snow of the season for me. I am just glad it kept Bedford and Lynchburg from being shutout for the season.
Kind of confused at this comment… On Dave Tolleris’s “last call map”, waynesboro was in the 4-8″ prediction ring; 8-12″ on his first call map; can’t find the 1st guess map, but how many inches did waynesboro get?
Please post a link or a reference to your 15″ claim. Here’s mine:
http://www.facebook.com/WxRisk
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“Above, I posted a link to Foreigner’s “Feels Like the First Time.” Judging from the current radar, it looks like I have witnessed a snow band coming through so that “It Feels Like the Last Time!!” For this storm, that is. Who gets my vote for having the worst forecast within 48 hours of the event? The National Weather Service, for forecasting zero accumulations here in my zip as late as Friday afternoon. Dave Tolleris’s snow map forecasting 15 inches for the area around Waynesboro would be 2nd worst.
Comment by Doug Griggs of SW Roanoke County — February 20, 2012 @ 12:26 am”
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Thanks for all your hard work the last few days, Kevin. Yesterday was a ton of fun. I guess it looks like this was the last significant winter weather event for us in Roanoke this year (only, actually). Looking forward to more next year.
I don’t remember seeing a 15 inch bullseye on DT’s map. I think it was his second call map had 8-12 with a 12 bullseye near our region, and in the end, that wasn’t terribly off. Tough storm for all.
I sweep my snowboard every 3 inches. I think I heard that is considered “the way”……….but if anybody knows better….?
I don’t know what the record for the most one day comments is, but the 19th has the cake as far as I’ve seen. 665+-.
Kevin in response to your earlier post I would say that yes it does take one to beat one especially one that is older . Beautiful day finished cleaning driveway ready for next snow maybe in two weeks or so.
Check out today’s snow cover map. Our snow cover is an island until itself separated from the main body of snow cover well to the north and west.
http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/snow_model/images/full/National/nsm_depth/201202/nsm_depth_2012022005_National.jpg
Perhaps I was wrong in attributing the 15 inches to DT. Perhaps it was a clown map from wx Earl. But I clearly remember it, because it showed much higher totals for the areas N and especially NE of Roanoke, and Roanoke was in the 9-10 inch color. That Roanoke forecast turned out to be fairly accurate for the highest elevations (I ended up with about 8, and I absolutely believe wd’s statement that spots around him got 12), but was off quite a bit for the floor of the Roanoke valley. By the way, AW, who are you and where do you live??
Alright Kevin, when’s the next snow, so I can start whining about it?
@Doug G, sorry I missed your searching for me last night, I had to get off here for awhile. All of the deep snow reports had me hyper-ventilating and they kept saying it was gonna keep coming. So I spent some time breathing into a paper bag. Actually, this was about the best all around snow I’ve seen in a long time. It’s great when the cold air doesn’t stay around afterward.
HUGE thank you and KUDOS to Kevin, for ALL his enthusiasm, expertise,
prognostications, refinements and tweaks to the Models, his wonderful
engagement and rapport with everybody…AND his sense of graciousness
and camaraderie during what has been OUR BIG, LOVELY WINTER-TIME
EXTRAVAGANZA and JUBILEE-WHEEeeeeee!
6.5″–7.5″ at 1,420′ South-Roanoke along 220, “Summit” uphill just past
“Outback.” Here’s to a gorgeous Spring, thundery Summer, colorful Autumn,
and A LITTLE BIT SNOWIER Winter 2012-2013!
…from a very happy and relieved camper and kid-at-heart.
Well, I have been unable to find the precise snowfall forecast map that I had in mind, but Roanoke was in the lower left corner, and the Waynesboro/Charlottesville area were in the middle. A large area of the map NE of Roanoke was predicting 12 inches and some a lot more. But I did find DT’s map from late Friday afternoon, 2-17, a comment by Elliot at 4:57 PM (Elliot, I am in no way criticizing you, BTW, and thanks for posting a link to DT’s Map), which shows a 12-inch swath from the north side of ROA and Botetourt all the way across the state to the counties N and NE of Richmond. I would call that forecast pretty bad, especially for the area between C-ville and Richmond.
Here’s my report on the NWS report that Kevin linked. I did that right before I went to bed………..and did not call in again this morning with my updated amount of 9.5. So, these are not necessarily storm totals, just a report at a certain time.
1 NNW WYTHEVILLE 8.0 1007 PM 2/19 TRAINED SPOTTER
Back to the fun!! For all you snow -lovin’ fans/bloggers who wanted, or “MUST HAVE …” or “NEEDED” snow, the following link is for you, and no, this is not yet Freddie Mercury. I liked some of the Rolling Stones’ songs, and this one was definitely one of my all time favorites, along with “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” The link — now don’t screw it up, Dougie!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPS9MpRLCd0 The key lyrics for you snow lovers is first sung by the Cheltenham Choir at about 0:42, and the first time good ol’ Mick J sings it is at roughly 1:41. OK, now to enter CAPTCHA, and find out if the link appears in the happy blue ….
I didn’t get what I consider a quality snow measurement to reflect snow total where I live (1400 feet, southern Roanoke County) but it appears to have been about 7.5 inches.
Next snow, Mark: Perhaps some upslope snow showers Saturday.
Two things had me amazed as I drove around between 9:30 and 11:45 A.M. First, there is an S-curve on Sugar Loaf Mountain Road that remains icy or snowy long after other sections of SLM Road are clear and especially most of my street. Sure enough, it was passable, but very treacherous. But when I got just a bit past that, I looked at lawns on Elbert Drive, elevation 1245 feet, or 175 feet lower than my house. They certainly looked like they got 2 or even 3 inches less snow than I did!! And the way lawns looked in the west side of my postal delivery zip, 24017, looked even lower. Roads are in fab shape. I was worried that SLM Road might be blocked by a fallen limb by the time I returned home, but no such bad luck. And nearly my entire driveway was completely clear of snow when I pulled in about 11:40!! The 35 feet closest to the street will be bone dry in a short while, might even be that way now. Awesome!! I feel sorry for those of you affected by no power. Here is hoping that you get it back A.S.A.P.
For totals where i am i measured 8 inches in the grass, a combined total of around 8 inches on top of my car, and about 2.5 inches on my driveway. Going to have to get some folks to help clear the massive pine tree that collapsed in our back yard and nearly hit the house.
There was a map on DT’s FB page that showed 15″ but it wasn’t his. It was someone else who posted it and wanted his opinion. It’s too far back (Friday I think) for me to search for it.
Kevin, you and I have almost identical elevations … I would guess that your estimate of 7.5 for your house is very accurate. My best guess for my home would be 8, because we still had more snow coming down here until midnight, about hour and 40 minutes after I measured it. Hey, do we have anyone here who lives in Roanoke city, north of the River, within a mile north or south of Orange Avenue? How much did you get? I wonder if anyone in a private residence (or anyplace with a lawn or some way to measure a surface that was not affected by the heat island too much) got even less than the airport’s 5.5 inches. If you already posted it, my apologies. I just now thought of trying to find out the answer to this Q.
I meant had there been no melting I think the totals would have been generally higher, like 12″ area wide. I don’t know of any 12″ totals anywhere around here tho. At least 2″/3″ melted up here during the day what with lulls in intensity, altho it started as all snow at 7 AM. Another frog with wings theory.
Mark G, thanks for your nice comment at 12:35 PM. Glad that you did not go into sudden bad health situation. Sam Oakey recommended someone else, and his recommendation was excellent, but would you like to be my “3rd in command” in the Snow Hater’s Club?? No work requirements involved, except to try to throw in moral support if one of us other snow haters gets … um, er …. I’m trying to find a kinder, gentler word than “attacked” …. “ganged up on” by snow lovers (And that happens a lot more rarely now, to my grateful relief). LOL If you would rather avoid it, just say so, or simply ignore the question.
Randy Oakey of Cahas, welcome to Kevin’s blog. You sound like a great guy. So don’t take the following personally. But there will always be only one Oakey near and dear to my heart …. the great, “all powerful” (I believe that is a direct quote used by Frosty the Snowman, by the way) Sam Oakey. Speaking of you, Sam O., (and you snow lovers may be about to get more enjoyment at some point later today …. a catfight between the two biggest snow haters on this blog!! LOL) I TOLD YOU to postpone that bicycle maintainance appointment to March 17th!!! Look at what happened!! LOL It’s OK with me, because I don’t have to deliver a walking route until Wednesday, but if you had to postpone or go through extra inconvenience involving your work today, well …. I told you so.
Hey, Cville4, thanks for reporting in. Have you heard of what the snowfall totals were for locations between you and Richmond, especially on the north side of I-64? Or anyone else can reply to that Q.
I really thought you weatherpeople were going to completely blow this one; but, I gotta admit… you were right.
Doug,
Talked to a friend that lives in Keswick, which is 10-15 miles east of C’ville just north of I-64 going towards Richmond, and they got 3 inches. I’d suspect that continuing to go north/east of there reduces the totals more. As I said earlier, we were on the far northern reaches of the solid bands. Just 30 miles north of us were reporting totals anywhere from 1-3 inches. Further north locals got nothing (such as DC).
I am an avid snow lover and a stalker of this blog! Not a day… who am I kiddin not really an hour other than sleepin at night goes by without checkin the blog… I loved the lil over 9 inches I received at my property up on a ridge of Jeters Chapel mtn, near vinton! BUT!!! When my power went out, my enjoyment went down the drain!!! I have had my snow fix and I’m ready for spring! My power just came back on and has been off since 9 pm last night!! Thank goodness its back because it was gettin cold!!
Big thanks to you Mr. Myatt for your time and your professional approach during this event. You proved once again not only do you have vast knowledge of the weather and patterns, you have a gift for explaining things and keeping folks calm. God bless you! And also a quick thanks to Mr. Singleton and Mr. Sublett for excellent coverage and analysis on Facebook for this storm. Well done!
The problem with this snow was not the amounts — we (Roanoke, New River area) had very few power outages when we had 2-3 times as much in Dec 09 (though far Southwest Virginia had MANY during that storm, as they did in this one). The trouble was that the early snow was a very wet consistency and clung to ever branch of every tree — gorgeous, but the weight was too much to bear for many trees, limbs and some power lines when the fluffier, later snow kept piling up on the early wet snow.
It’s not nearly as pretty on the trees, but I prefer a colder, drier, powdery snow. Part of that is I like to hike in snow (and in many other kinds of weather), especially with snowshoes, and this kind of snow really isn’t conducive to that. I am glad we missed the late October snowstorm that put this same kind of snow on fully leafed trees and knocked power out to millions from Maryland to Massachusetts.
My mother lost her power so we are dealing with that aspect of the storm as a family.
And even the late October bomb that caused so many folks in the Northeast to lose power, had some local effects that would definitely leave many, including weather experts, shaking their heads. If someone told me before the storm that my friend Bob M. in the western corner of Mass had 21 inches of snow, and my sister Donna in central Mass 50 miles east of him had “only” 14, and I had to guess which one retained their power throughout the storm and which one lost power for 3+ days, I would absolutely guess that it would be Bob. But it was Donna. Difference of a powdery 21 inches for Bob and a much wetter 14 for Donna. Without knowing the specific details of the type of snow, it was a case of “Go figure.” I am also grateful for everyone that this storm hit now, not in mid-March after a lot of trees (at least here in the lower elevations of the Roanoke valley) had popped their leaves out. You mentioned the same thing, I think, KM. Be careful what you wish for, everybody, once the buds turn into blossoms and leaves. Anything more than 2 or 3 inches of snow (because it would almost certainly be another wet snow in March) on trees with leaves, and the number of people without power would make the numbers from this storm look tiny. Especially if the big warm-up of the next 10-14 days happens, and a snowstorm hits after that.
Kevin, thanks for the blog, and the time you put in. I agree with what others have noted, it sure is nice to have a blog with good humored, pleasant discussion.
Doug, I have had my fix, and though I am certainly not ready to join the snow haters club, I am happy to get on with spring if we don’t see any more snow. However, if the choice is 40 degrees and rain, or 30 and snow, I will take the snow any day.
Doppler Carol, maybe now you can start the gardening blog. My pumpkins did not do so well last year, so I am anxious to get them started and see what I can do better this year.
Bulletin, KM. Of possible interest to you specifically. I was talking on the phone with a friend who lives on the Jubal Early Highway in northern Franklin County (Route 116, just south of Windy Gap) a little after 2 PM, and at the beginning of the call he told me that his power was still out. While we were talking, it came back on. Hope that same good news happens for your Mom immediately. And like lots of folks, thanks for doing unbelievable amounts of comment approving over the past 5 days or so, as well as starting threads, making comments when you could, and yes, oh by the way, your job as copy editor, too. Congrats, Kevin, for getting your ugly puss on the front page of the Roanoke Times, also!!!! OF COURSE, JUST KIDDING AND TEASING WITH THE “UGLY PUSS” COMMENT!! I only tease folks I like …. unfortunately for you, Sam Oakey, and many bloggers here, I like you!! Excellent article, by the way.
Thanks very much, Cville4, for your 3:07 PM comment. I am “dying” to communicate with you personally, but that is impossible. Thanks for your update.
For fun, I went out and measured snow in my front yard about 3:45 PM. My 8 inches shrunk to 1.5 Boy, do I ever wish I could say more ….
One last comment on this weekend snow. Once morning broke with not a cloud in the sky, a winter wonderland appeared. And when the sun got up it had to be as pretty as any snow scene I’ve ever seen.
We lost power here at the Dr.Saxx fantasy compound in East Vinton, elevation 1000ft. Just regained power at 4pm today. I feel for everyone who lost electricity, it is not fun. Thanks Kevin for the storm insight, especially for updating us on the heavier bands of snow that moved through and the time frame, you were dead on. We ended up with about 7.5 inches.
Some tidbits from the daily highs and lows, and also for tomorrow’s forecast for ROA. As Kevin pointed out, because it was so warm at 12:01 AM yesterday (Sunday), 52* at RRA, the high was actually a bit higher than the normal high of 50. What is at least as weird is that the low at 11:59 PM (didn’t you mention that somewhere above, too, KM?) was only 32*, even though most areas of the ‘noke valley had snow for more than half the day. That 32* is also 2 degrees warmer than the normal low of 30. Easy math …. therefore the actual mean temp at ROA was 42 and a +2 vs. the normal mean, on a day when 5-7 inches of snow fell on the valley floor!!!
Tomorrow’s high temp is very likely to be 51 or 52. Why? OK, it might not be, but the NWS, “7″, and “13″ are all forecasting a high of 51, while “10″ is predicting 52. But the forecasted low will be somewhere in the mid-20s. 24* forecast by “7″ and NWS, and 23* by “13.” Those lows in the mid 20s are likely to cause tomorrow to be slightly cooler than normal!! And today’s high of 49 and low of 26 was also a bit colder than normal. But despite all that, we shed snow cover like crazy too. The awesome power of Sam Oa …… er, no! the SUN!!!
I agree with your comment at 4:54, wd. Definitely picture postcard gorgeous. At least one of the three big ones back in the monster winter was also very beautiful. It might have even been the giant, but I was probably too busy freaking out like Mark of Pulaski mentioned to fully appreciate it, knowing what might lie ahead …. (and my worst fears about what the rest of that winter was going to be like were not only confirmed, but exceeded).
It’ll take a major short term pattern change (-NAO etc) in March to convince me that we have anything other than a “one hit wonder”. It was pretty while it lasted, but springtime is just around the corner. I had 5 inches here in Redwood but Rocky Mount looks more in the 3 inch range and most of it melted today. Curious… which model was most accurate with this storm?… and in general, which model is statistically the most accurate?
Wow, not only are both the 6-10 day and 8-14 day CPC maps pointing toward warmer weather for Virginia, and not only are the NAO and AO forecasted to stay in positive territory, but now the forecast for the PNA, which has been and is positive (which is good for slightly increasing the chances of colder than normal weather in the eastern US) is now predicted to take an immense nosedive in about a week, past neutral and well into negative numbers. I am still stunned that the NAO has remained at or near neutral or positive this entire winter. I still think it will take a pretty big nosedive at some point in the next two months or so, but even if it does, when does it happen and how negative will it go and for how many weeks or days will it remain there?
European model shows blowtorch warmth next week. Quick warmup late this week — quick cold shot over weekend — big warmup next week.
I’m sticking a fork in winter now that I just put the snow shovel up!
Total snowafall here in Marshall 0,not one flake fell.But i`m glad you guys and gals down in southwestern Va received a nice snowfall yesterday.Its cooling down quick tonight already at 28 and dropping.I`m guessing this might be it for snow this winter!But its not over till its over!Right Everyone!
Around 7 inches Franklin County side of Windy Gap….No power all night last night, no power for 20 hrs.Came back on this afternoon.
As promised…a little Freddie Mercury after our wonderful snow fall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdCrZfTkG1c
I do not have power, running off a generator currently, less than optimum! My old apple tree fell this time, it just could not withstand the weight of the snow.
Atta girl!!! Congratulations! If all 5-inch+ snowstorms were like this one, I would not be a snow hater!! And that is the truth!
I honestly have enjoyed this one. The roads cleared up nicely, but still have the beautiful snow on the ground. My kids built snowmen and went sleigh riding a good majority of yesterday. Stinks not having power, but at least with the generator I can have a few things running.
Snowing lightly in Lexington.
6 1/4 inches of snow in the Fairmont Church area of Boones Mill.