We are now waking up to crystallized properties, as blankets of frost develop overnight and glisten in the early morning. While some dread the cold, the low temperatures fill others with excitement and maybe even a burst of energy, all because of the thought of snowflakes falling soon. Those of you who are excited will enjoy the forecast for tomorrow! “A little light snow possible in the morning, possibly mixed with rain. Highs: Near 40.”
With snow already in the forecast, the Blythewood crews are once again prepared to brave whatever may come to the Washington DC region.
Although tomorrow is not going to be the biggest winter show of the year, it is signaling the transition into Winter 2021-2022.
Each year, it is hard to say exactly what will happen with the winter weather in Maryland and Virginia. However, one way to predict what could come is by referring to past winter storms in our region.
Read on to learn about three of the largest winter storms in recent history in the DC and Baltimore region.
January 22-23, 2016: This storm came by surprise, after a Christmas over 70 degrees and one of the warmest recorded years in history in our region.
January 17th brought a wintery mix and low pressure air through the Mid-Atlantic, producing what would be the first inch of snowfall on January 20th. By January 22nd, Shenandoah Valley received a blanket of snowflakes which developed and moved toward the DC metro area. The 23rd produced snowfall at a rate of 1-2 inches per hour. This continued north of the Potomac River and to the PA border. Totals reach 38.5 inches in central Maryland and 26 inches in Northern Virginia and Washington DC.
Jan 26, 2011
The storm of January 2011 came in two waves, the first hitting northern MD with a huge period of sleet and snow early morning. Next, a much stronger wave widened over the region. Conditions deteriorated through rush hour as sleet transitioned into heavy, persistent snow. At this point, snow was falling at a rate of 2-3 inches per hour through the evening. The Washington Post reported that 400k people lost power. Those who were stuck in gridlocked traffic took 5 to 10 hours to get home and some even abandoned their vehicles, while snowplows could make little to no progress and trees and powerlines were fallen everywhere. With the snowfall reaching 5 inches in DC and 7.6 in Baltimore, the totals weren’t as memorable as the strength of the storm.
Feb 13, 2014
High pressure over New England met low pressure that tracked its way northeast from the Gulf. This created intensity off the Virginia coast on February 12th. Heavy snowfall prevailed through the evening and night of the 13th, continuing into mid afternoon the next day. The storm reached totals of 24 inches in Owings Mills, 22 inches in Sykesville and Frostburg, and 7.2 inches at Reagan National Airport.
Click here to learn more about the biggest storms of the area, dating back to January 28, 1772. The 1772 storm was the one of the earliest to be recorded, known as the Washington & Jefferson Storm. It was a 3-foot blizzard, covering central and northern Virginia.
If you are a fellow weather junkie who made it this far, you must be excited about the potential of this winter. We will continue to share weather updates as the temperatures drop.
We will also remain prepared for whatever Mother Nature has in mind. In the meantime, do not hesitate to contact us directly regarding your snow contract, Winter Weather Reports, Our Plan of Action, etc. You may call our office or reach out over email:
Mike Berg [email protected]
Bernie Granzow [email protected]
Mike Berg has been a driving force in the landscaping industry since 2017 when he co-founded Blythewood Landscape Management. As the company’s sole sales and account manager, Mike has played a crucial role in expanding the business and delivering high-quality landscaping services. With years of experience and a dedication to customer satisfaction, Mike continues to lead Blythewood Landscape Management towards new heights.
