Snow total could reach 8 inches

December 06, 2003|by JULIE E. GREENE

The Tri-State area received up to 6.5 inches of snow and ice in some areas by Friday evening and could see the total reach 8 inches by this morning, thanks to the tail end of a second snowstorm, a more powerful Nor'easter, according to the National Weather Service.

The snowfall should end by 9 or 10 this morning, meteorologist Chris Strong said.

A weak coastal storm produced Friday morning's snow, which caused several local school systems to close schools for the day.

Slight variations in temperature across the Tri-State area caused snow and ice accumulation totals to be uneven as temperatures slightly above freezing, which is 32 degrees, melted some snow, Strong said.

As of 6:30 p.m. Friday, there was 6.5 inches of snow at the water treatment plant near Williamsport while there was only 2.75 inches in Boonsboro, local weather observers reported.

According to weather observer Greg Keefer's Web site, Hagerstown had received 6 inches of snow and sleet as of 9 p.m.

"It's starting to accumulate. That's when it gets bad," said Cpl. Jay Robinson with the Maryland State Police in Frederick, Md. By 6:30 p.m. state police from that barracks had reports of several minor accidents.

Even with snow expected to stop this morning, Strong said driving conditions could remain hazardous as temperatures were expected to stay below freezing until mid-afternoon Sunday.

The Tri-State area was expected to get more snow overnight from a second snowstorm, a Nor'easter, Strong said.

A weak low pressure system moving over Appalachia spawned the bigger coastal low pressure system, Strong said. The brunt of the Nor'easter was expected to move northeast from Ocean City, Md., he said.

The Tri-State area caught the tail end of the second storm, Strong said.

While a winter storm warning was to remain in effect until 4 p.m. today, Strong said flood warnings had not been issued because temperatures were expected to stay low enough that snow wouldn't melt rapidly.

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