usedtobe Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 The temperatures at every level of the atmosphere at DCA were below freezing but there were reports of sleet. How can that happen? see below. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2011/01/why_was_there_ice_before_snow.html#more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donsutherland1 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 The temperatures at every level of the atmosphere at DCA were below freezing but there were reports of sleet. How can that happen? see below. http://voices.washin..._snow.html#more Great explanation, Wes. The Post is privileged to have you writing for CWG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NattyBo Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Great post, made it easy for a weenie like me to understand. And your guess was correct - in Rockville, the sleet was white, not the color of an icecube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usedtobe Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 Great explanation, Wes. The Post is privileged to have you writing for CWG. Don thanks. they blogs usually are fun to do. The last couple of days were tough as DC was flirting with the dry slot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WxUSAF Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Wes, if I was taking an official ob yesterday during that beginning period, I would have reported snow pellets (GS) or snow pellets mixed with freezing drizzle. It definitely wasn't PL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poodleusier Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Wes - Just read your article on CWG. Just wanted to report up in Frederick, MD we got about 45 minutes of sleet, from 5:00 to 5:45. It was white and more of a uniform ball shape than the typical rough edged clear sleet. When it switched to snow it seemed to be instantaneous, not much of a mix of the two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchnick Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 interesting stuff Wes, good job I just wish we didn't have to talk about such atmospheric occurrences! but to answer your question, I was out walking last evening and when I started it was light zr, then it transitioned to lt sleet by the time I was finished walking, just before the snow started, the light sleet had formed a very white, snow-like accumulation on all the surfaces and I thought to myself how the sleet looked like snow...now I know why Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I thought it was sleet myself, but it was whitish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dallen7908 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Perhaps that also explains why I seemed to change instantly from moderate freezing rain to "dry" snow. Did the change from freezing rain to snow happen at roughly the same time everywhere in the local region as the coastal took over or did the region of snow advect in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usedtobe Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 Perhaps that also explains why I seemed to change instantly from moderate freezing rain to "dry" snow. Did the change from freezing rain to snow happen at roughly the same time everywhere in the local region as the coastal took over or did the region of snow advect in? It didn't, i had freezing rain longer because the heavier precipitation band with the deeper clouds too longer to get to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aldie 22 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 When it started here it looked like little styrofoam balls...that's when you commented about the cloud tops and as soon as it went heavy then it was big fat flakes and hard. Nice explanation Wes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capitalweather Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Great explanation, Wes. The Post is privileged to have you writing for CWG. We are indeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usedtobe Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 We are indeed Your edits always make me look good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dallen7908 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 From this afternoon's LWX discussion. Note the possibility of freezing rain despite a profile with all temperatures below 0C. Does this indicate low cloud top heights again? A MID AND LOW-LEVEL TROUGH AXIS WILL SHARPEN TONIGHT AS THESE TWO SYSTEMS SLOWLY BEGIN TO PHASE TOGETHER. THIS WILL CAUSE A SOUTHWEST FLOW TO DEVELOP AT THE MID AND LOW LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE. WARM AND MOIST AIR WILL OVERRIDE THE SURFACE COLD AIR IN PLACE CAUSING FOR CLOUDS TO QUICKLY DEVELOP THIS EVENING. IT APPEARS THAT THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH LIFT AND MOISTURE FOR THE CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES. THE BEST CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION WILL BE DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS ACROSS THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS AND SHENANDOAH VALLEY. HAVE ADDED THE CHANCE FOR LIGHT SNOW IN THE GRIDS. BUFKIT SOUNDINGS ARE SHOWING THAT THE MOIST LAYER LACKS ICE CRYSTALS...WHICH CAUSES A CONCERN FOR FREEZING DRIZZLE DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE ENTIRE SOUNDING PROFILE IS BELOW 0C. WILL HAVE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION THIS EVENING. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usedtobe Posted January 18, 2011 Author Share Posted January 18, 2011 From this afternoon's LWX discussion. Note the possibility of freezing rain despite a profile with all temperatures below 0C. Does this indicate low cloud top heights again? A MID AND LOW-LEVEL TROUGH AXIS WILL SHARPEN TONIGHT AS THESE TWO SYSTEMS SLOWLY BEGIN TO PHASE TOGETHER. THIS WILL CAUSE A SOUTHWEST FLOW TO DEVELOP AT THE MID AND LOW LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE. WARM AND MOIST AIR WILL OVERRIDE THE SURFACE COLD AIR IN PLACE CAUSING FOR CLOUDS TO QUICKLY DEVELOP THIS EVENING. IT APPEARS THAT THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH LIFT AND MOISTURE FOR THE CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES. THE BEST CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION WILL BE DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS ACROSS THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS AND SHENANDOAH VALLEY. HAVE ADDED THE CHANCE FOR LIGHT SNOW IN THE GRIDS. BUFKIT SOUNDINGS ARE SHOWING THAT THE MOIST LAYER LACKS ICE CRYSTALS...WHICH CAUSES A CONCERN FOR FREEZING DRIZZLE DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE ENTIRE SOUNDING PROFILE IS BELOW 0C. WILL HAVE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION THIS EVENING. I haven't had time to look but assume that is their reasoning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nw baltimore wx Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 I haven't had time to look but assume that is their reasoning. Wes! Glad you're feeling well enough to post! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usedtobe Posted January 18, 2011 Author Share Posted January 18, 2011 Wes! Glad you're feeling well enough to post! I'm planning on doing a blog tomorrow. I itch but otherwise feel pretty good. The best I've felt in the past week except I'm really tired. I only got about 4 hours of sleep during the past 48 hrs. I'm getting ready to call it a night. No model watching for me until I get some sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nw baltimore wx Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 I'm planning on doing a blog tomorrow. I itch but otherwise feel pretty good. The best I've felt in the past week except I'm really tired. I only got about 4 hours of sleep during the past 48 hrs. I'm getting ready to call it a night. No model watching for me until I get some sleep. You're not missing much. We're all in full weenie mode so it's best you don't see it. Hope that you get some sleep tonite and looking forward to your blog tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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