Updated temp contrasts and evening analysis

[WXBUFFJIM]

Good evening everyone. A big storm continues to deepen rapidly tonight over the northeastern United States. My home barometer in central Maryland shows the lowest pressure was 995 millibars or 29.38 inche during the frontal passage at around 5 pm EST this evening. Currently the pressure is 996 millibars or 29.41 inches in Baltimore County tonight. Huge changes are being felt across the region with a variation of seasons across the northeast and middle atlantic region.

For example Norfolk, Virginia is a balmy 72 degrees and Newport News, Virginia is 71 degrees. Philly was 60 degrees prior to frontal passage. Richmond, VA is 58 degrees. BWI Airport in Baltimore is 51 degrees. BWI measured a peak wind gust to 43 mph during the frontal passage while Reagan National in DC measured a peak gust to 40 mph. Elkins, WV is seeing a rain/snow mix at 34 degrees. Johnstown is 32 degrees with snow. Pittsburgh is 36 degrees with drizzle, which will change over to snow in the not too distant future. A huge change and wide range of temperature. It simply goes from spring to winter in a rather short distance.

The other story is the deepening storm over the northeastern United States. The system is generating alot of wind tonight. Severe storms are a problem across the eastern shore of Maryland. The same line of storms along the cold front resulted in a 55mph gust at Keysler, WV, 50 mph gust in Hagerstown, MD, 43 mph at BWI Airport, and 40 mph in Washington DC. Heavy rainfall of 1/2 inch in a short period of time is likely with this line of storms.

In addition to the winds along the cold front, the difference in pressure between the developing low pressure over New York state and high presure over the northern Gulf Of Mexico is generating strong winds behind the cold front. Lake effect snows will likely develop later tonight with 4-8 inches of snow likely in lake effect favored areas of Lakes Erie and Ontario. This includes Erie, PA, Dunkirk, NY,the south towns of Buffalo, and possibly into Rochester and Syracuse, NY as well. All of the lake effect favored areas are under winter weather advisories for the night. Buffalo is included in this advisory and once again 4-8 inches of snow is a possibility in these areas now through Saturday evening. Meanwhile there are winter storm warnings out for western maryland and northern West Virginia where 6-10 inches of snow is possible in the highest elevations. All of this snow combined with strong winds gusting between 35 to 55 mph will create blizzard conditions in the above mentioned areas. Also keep an eye out later tonight into tomorrow for possibly a few snow flurries of intense snow squalls for the major cities from New York City southward through Philly and DC. This snow will only be a scenic snowfall though because temps will remain well above freezing. Even the grassy areas are likely not going to see much if any snowfall accumulation. Temps aloft are forecast to be very cold. However wth surface temps between 35 and 40 degrees, no snow accumulation is expected east of the mountains into the major cities if in fact this scenario comes into play at all. Just enjoy the falling snow if it occurs in the major cities of the northeast. At least it will get folks in the holiday spirit. Winter doesn't start until December 21st, 2003. So we got plenty of time to see and chase winters fury!!! I will anyway!!!

More updates on this evoling storm system coming up a bit later.

Jim