2/13/10: Special - What's with all the snow?

As I'm sure you have noticed, we have received a record amount of snow this winter. What is causing this? How does this compare to average?

The following is a Q&A explaining what is going on...


What is a normal winter like in this area?

The Baltimore area generally sees several minor to moderate snowstorms a season. January and February usually see the greatest snowfall accumulations. We usually get a major storm (12 inches or more) about every 7 years or so. Since 2003 (the last major storm and above average year) BWI has seen season totals of 18.3, 18.0, 19.6, 11.0, 8.5 and 9.1 inches. Since 1971, BWI's running season average is 18.2 inches. As you can see, we have been well below average for the past 3 years. You could say we were due for a snowy winter!


How do this year's snow totals compare to a normal winter?

BWI has measured 79.9 inches of accumulated snow so far this winter. This total dwarfs the average as well as the previous record, which was set in 1995/1996 with 62.5 inches.

For comparison sake, here are some snowfall averages for select cities around the country:

Anchorage, AK: 70.6"
Billings, MT: 56.7"
Buffalo, NY: 93.6"
Burlington, VT: 78.8"
Chicago, IL: 38.5"
Cleveland, OH: 56.9"
Denver, CO: 60.3"
Duluth, MN: 80.7"
Grand Rapids, MI: 73.2"
South Bend, IN: 70.8"

For the complete list: Click Here.


What have been some other note-worthy storms in this area?

Here is a list of the the greatest three-day snowfalls on record in Baltimore history (before this year):

1. 26.8" Feb 2003
2. 26.6" Jan 1996
3. 26.5" Jan 1922
4. 22.8" Feb 1983
5. 22.0" Mar 1942
6. 21.3" Feb 1899
7. 20.0" Feb 1979
8. 15.5" Feb 1958
9. 14.9" Jan 2000
10. 14.3" Jan 1928

In 118 years of record keeping, Baltimore had gotten more than 15 inches of snow only 8 times. This winter alone, BWI has surpassed 15 inches on 3 different occasions!

Take a look at the National Weather Service's page: History of Big Winter Storms for this area for more details.


What is causing this abnormally snowy winter?

The combination of two main features is causing all of this snow: El Nino and a negative North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). El Nino is abnormal warming of the waters off the coast of Peru which leads to cooler and wetter winters here and allows storms to tap into deep tropical moisture. A negative NAO causes cold air that would normally stay to our north to spill down into the eastern United States. This displaced arctic air is forced into our area because an area of high pressure over Greenland forces warmer air into the arctic. This blocking pattern setup once in December, relaxed during January, and has since returned. It is currently modeled to stay in place into March, so we have the potential to see more big snowstorms.

Here are two links with more on El Nino and the NAO:

El Nino: Click Here.

NAO: Click Here.



So hang in there Maryland! You are witnessing an historic winter, first hand. No one else here has seen snowfall totals like this in at least 118 years!

...And remember, there are only 34 days until spring!