At 4pm EST on February 13, 2014: PART 2 of the Major Winter Storm is now affecting
Mid-Atlantic and we're getting hit with ice pellets!
WHAT ARE ICE PELLETS? Ice pellets (or sleet) are a form of
precipitation consisting of small, translucent balls of ice. Ice pellets are smaller
than hailstones which ONLY form in thunderstorms (during spring, summer and
fall) rather than in winter, and are different from graupel ("soft
hail") which is made of frosty white rime, and from rain and snow mixed
which is a slushy liquid or semisolid. Ice pellets often bounce when they hit
the ground or other solid objects, and make a higher-pitched "tap"
when striking objects like jackets, windshields, etc.
THUNDERSNOW RUMBLING!!-
At 4pm in Bowie, Md (east of Washington, DC) we also heard THUNDER- so we're
getting Thundersnow/sleet!
VIDEO: http://youtu.be/DBzRYdIHdsE
WHAT'S THE
FORECAST FOR BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON TONIGHT? Winter weather advisory remains
in effect until 1 am est Friday...
Snow
accumulations...an additional 1 to 4 inches late this afternoon and
evening...with the highest amounts south and east of Washington, DC.
* timing...a mix of snow...sleet and rain will become all
snow between 5 pm and 7 pm. Snow may be
moderate to locally heavy at times this
evening.
* temperatures.. will fall into the lower 30s this
evening.
* winds becoming northwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35
mph tonight.
* impacts...untreated roads will continue to be snow
covered and slippery this afternoon. Travel will be dangerous...especially late this afternoon and evening. Heavy wet
snow could lead to some power outages
especially tonight as the winds increase
