ONE YEAR AGO TODAY 12-22-02 and WETTEST YEARS AT BWI..

[WXBUFFJIM]

Since weather records have started, the only year we had 60 inches or more of rain was back in 1889 in Baltimore. 2003 can now be added as year #2 of 60 inches plus of rain annually at 60.48 inches. Below are the top 5 wettest years ever in Baltimore.

1st place: 1889: 62.35"
2nd place: 2003: 60.48"
3rd place: 1979: 58.98"
4th place: 1996: 58.31"
5th place: 1952: 56.57"

One year ago today, Baltimore experienced an icestorm, especially north and west of the city. This was a time when I just simply went for it. The rain started out as a brief period of freezing rain here in Essex. We ended up with over 2 inches of rain here with 1.61" of rain on this date one year ago at BWI Airport. That combined with snowmelt from the December 5th, 2002 storm resulted in flooding, especially north of the city.

During the morning of December 11, 2002, I drove straight into the icestorm zone. Thankfully the roads were salted. I took it slow. I made it all the way to the Maryland/Pennsylvania line when roads started getting extremely slick. What I witnessed in northern Baltimore County was trees down on roadways and lots of ice on trees and powerlines. It was only just a matter of time as to when the ice actually results in downed powerlines. It got alittle freaky for a while. But I kept my calm as I always do and took still shots of this. After noontime on December 11, 2002, I left the northern counties and headed back home to the rain. I can say that was quite an experience.

Jim

[JCT777]

Nice info, Jim. And with 2 more storms expected in the next 7 days - I think 2003 has an excellent chance of becoming the #1 wettest year in Baltimore.