Live-blogging the 01-02 March 2009 snowstorm

Since I am following the event online and out my window, I've decided to live-blog the next few hours. The current NWS forecast calls for between 6 and 10 inches to fall tonight through tomorrow morning. I've decided to take several photos to track any accumulations. Here is a series of photos of the snow accumulation from my balcony. Below the photos is a summary of accumulations, snow conditions, and temperatures from 4 pm Sunday 01 March to 1 pm Monday 02 March.

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1000 EST 02 March:

Snow status: Light snow continues. Blowing snow has begun in earnest.
Temperature at Annapolis-Hospital Point: 24.8F
Accumulation: 2.5" from 0700-1000; total snow accumulation from 4 pm Sun Mar 1st to 10 am Mon Mar 2nd: 8.25". Snow on ground at 1000 EST: 6.5".
Wind direction: 330. Wind speed: 16 kts

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0900 EST 02 March:

Snow status: Light snow continues. Blowing snow has begun in earnest.
Temperature at Annapolis-Hospital Point: 24.8F
Accumulation: continues. Will re-measure at 1000 EST.
Wind direction: 330. Wind speed: 15 kts

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0800 EST 02 March:

Snow status: light snow continues
Temperature at Annapolis-Hospital Point: 26.6F
Accumulation: continues. Will re-measure at 1000 EST.
Wind direction: 330. Wind speed: 16 kts gusting 22 kts

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0700 EST 02 March:

Snow status: snow began again around 0500 and has been snowing steadily since
Temperature at Annapolis-Hospital Point: 26.6F
Accumulation: 1.25" from 0400 to 0700 EST (0900-1200 UTC); Storm-total from 2100-1200 UTC 5.75"; Total snow on ground at 1200 UTC: 4.75" (due to melting, etc).
Wind direction: 330. Wind speed: 17 kts

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0130 EST 02 March:

Snow status: snow has ended, sometime between midnight and 1 a.m.
Temperature at Annapolis-Hospital Point: 30.2F
Accumulation: 1.5" from 2200 to 0100 EST (0300-0600 UTC); Storm-total from 2100-0600 UTC 4.5"; Total snow on ground at 0605 UTC: 4.00".
Wind direction: 010. Wind speed: 15 kts gusting to 25 kts

Notes: this is essentially the end of "Mega-storm 2009" (as it has been christened by The Weather Channel). We've been dry-slotted, meaning the warm conveyor belt of air transporting moisture from the Atlantic has moved to our NE. We might stand to get maybe 1-2" more snow from the "wrap-around", the cold conveyor belt behind the upper-low. Personally I'm curious about the low snowfall totals, relative to that forecasted by NWS and various media outlets (ranging from 6 to 12 inches). I am willing to hang my hat on low snow ratios, maybe 6.5:1 or 7:1, which could be reasonable considering that nearly all of this snow fell when the surface and lowest-layer temperatures were above 0 Celsius. Only now in strong cold-air advection have our temps gone below freezing.

It remains to be seen whether I have school or not tomorrow. Just walking around to get to the snow board, I have a hunch we will report for business as usual. Regardless, it's time for bed, as all this forecasting - and measuring - has worn me out. Hasta manana!!

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2200 EST 01 March:

Snow status: moderate snow (heaviest of any in the event)
Temperature at Annapolis-Hospital Point: 33.8F
Accumulation: 1.5" from 1900 to 2200 EST (0000-0300 UTC); Storm-total from 2100-0300 UTC 3.0"; Total snow on ground at 0305 UTC: 2.75".
Wind direction: 010. Wind speed: 11 kts

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2100 EST 01 March:

Snow status: drizzle, light rain, and light snow mixture
Temperature at Annapolis-Hospital Point: 33.8F
Accumulation: seems to have halted for the moment (or accumulating as much as is melting)
Wind direction: 010. Wind speed: 10 kts gusting to 15 kts

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2000 EST 01 March:

Snow status: light snow
Temperature at Annapolis-Hospital Point: 35.6F
Accumulation: continues (will measure again at 2200 EST // 0300 UTC)
Notes: wind speeds have increased and snow is now blowing in at angles. Radar image indicates drying /diminished reflectivities/ working in from the west. Snow rates for next few hours appear to be less. Temperature remains above freezing.

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1915 EST 01 March:

Snow status: light snow
Temperature at Annapolis-Hospital Point: 33.8F
Accumulation: 1.5" (3-hr total using snow board, from 1600-1900)

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1800 EST 01 March:

Snow status: light snow
Temperature at Annapolis-Hospital Point: 35.6F
Accumulation: 1/2"

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1700 EST 01 March:

Snow status: light snow
Temperature at Annapolis-Hospital Point: 35.6F
Accumulation: none.

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1600 EST 01 March:

Snow status: light flurries
Temperature at Annapolis-Hospital Point: 37.4F
Accumulation: none