Ping Ping Ping

Above is a gorgeous picture of the newly formed low pressure off of the NC coast. It is beginning to develop the comma shape of a classic nor'easter. Note the clear line across Virginia which is a nice delineation of the precipitation on the backside.

This storm is going to be big for downeast Maine and Eastern Massachusetts. The temperature here in DC has dropped throughout the night and the temperature differences (which power these storms) is dramatic.

At 3am it was 26 at Reagan (and strong North wind) and it is 61 in Norfolk VA (which had a strong southerly wind). That wind in Norfolk has turned to the NW meaning that the low is now offshore (5 am). The barometric pressure in DC has dropped almost 0.8 inches of Hg in 18 hours and stands around 29.5 inches and still dropping.

Across the local area, the temps vary from 23 at Dulles to 33 at Annapolis which is a pretty good spread. The heaviest of the preciptation is just about over and we may have some snow showers in the morning.

I went out to get the paper and the steps (facing north) are covered in wind driven sleet. Looks like 1.5 inches of sleet here in Takoma which is on top of 1-2 inches of snow/ice from earlier on Tuesday.

Be sure to shovel the sleet quickly or it will turn to a hard, thick sheet of ice on the first sunny day (and it will be below freezing until Saturday) - it takes much longer to melt sleet than snow so this will be around for awhile.

Be safe and enjoy the snow day!