Blizzard Conditions in St. Mary's and Anne Arundel

Severe Thunderstorm Threat From the Central Plains to the Northeast; Extreme HeatRisk for the East Coast

Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible from the central Plains to the Northeast through this evening. Widespread damaging winds are the primary threat but hail and a tornado or two is also possible. Extremely dangerous heat continues across the Eastern U.S. Warm overnight low temperatures will provide little to no relief. Read More >

000 NOUS41 KLWX 072149 CCA PNSLWX DCZ001-MDZ003>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-501-502-VAZ021-025>031-036> 042-050>057-WVZ049>055-501>504-081100- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED DATE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 435 PM EST SUN FEB 07 2010 ...PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS OF BLIZZARD CONDITIONS IN ST. MARY'S AND ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTIES IN MARYLAND ON SATURDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2010... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEFINITION OF A BLIZZARD IS A WINTER STORM WHICH PRODUCES THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS FOR 3 HOURS OR LONGER: SUSTAINED WINDS OR FREQUENT GUSTS 35 MPH OR GREATER...AND FALLING AND/OR BLOWING SNOW REDUCING VISIBILITY FREQUENTLY TO LESS THAN ONE-QUARTER MILE ON A WIDESPREAD OR LOCAL BASIS. PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS SHOW THAT BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WERE RECORDED AT TWO OBSERVATION LOCATIONS IN THE REGION ON SATURDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2010. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS AT BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL THURGOOD MARSHALL AIRPORT IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY MD...FROM APPROXIMATELY 12 MIDNIGHT TO 5:00 AM EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. DURING THIS TIME PERIOD...WIND GUSTS WERE RECORDED TO 37 MPH WITH VISIBILITIES AT OR BELOW ONE-QUARTER MILE IN HEAVY SNOW. THE SECOND LOCATION WAS AT THE PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION IN ST. MARY'S COUNTY MD...FROM APPROXIMATELY 12 NOON TO 4:00 PM SATURDAY AFTERNOON. DURING THIS TIME PERIOD...WIND GUSTS WERE RECORDED TO 41 MPH WITH VISIBILITIES REDUCED TO ONE-EIGHTH MILE IN HEAVY SNOW. NEAR-BLIZZARD CONDITIONS...WHICH MET THE COUPLED VISIBILITY AND WIND CRITERIA THAT OCCURRED OCCASIONALLY DURING THE STORM...BUT FELL BELOW THE 3 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE HOUR CONSTRAINT OF THE FORMAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEFINITION OF A BLIZZARD...WERE OBSERVED IN ANNAPOLIS MD...RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT...DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...AND ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE IN PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY MD. AS WITH ANY MAJOR CLIMATE RECORD ACHIEVEMENT...THESE PRELIMINARY RECORDS WILL BE QUALITY CONTROLLED BY NOAA'S NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. $$ LEE