The second day of the new year was another cold one to give 2018 quite a start. Sunny, really brisk temps continued as temps just reached the low 20s for high temperatures. Despite the well below freezing temps the light snowcover has decreased to a trace due to sublimation as the snow evaporates directly into the air from the sun’s rays and low dew points. The Tuesday minimum temperature from the VP2 (10.5°) was recorded at 0711 while the maximum temperature (23.0°) was recorded at 1623. Dew point temperatures ranged from 0° at 0000 up to 6° at 1843. Relative humidity values lowered a bit from yesterday’s values (65% – 43%). Barometric values rose some more, from a morning high of 30.65″ at 1008 down to 30.43″ much later at 2346.

Remember now you can get the VP2 data on Weatherlink. You can access the data through http://www.weatherlink.com/user/walrusman444.

I am posting daily to weather underground. My ID is KMDROCKV200 and my station is called “Gardens of Traville.” Data is online, normally just about in real-time. I contribute daily to cocorahs as Rockville 2.8 WNW, Station ID MD-MG-115. Please take note that Weather Underground does not report snow data, and reflects what is recorded automatically through the tipping bucket VP2 gauge.

I spoke with Ray a few times briefly when I had the chance to talk about the upcoming coastal storm, and also with Marty briefly and Tracy while she was on her way to work. 

We have sunny skies now with scattered cirrus/cirrostratus and cold with temps in the mid teens. Wednesday partly cloudy with highs in the low 30s and lows around 20°. The storm that will run up the East Coast midweek really looks like it will track far enough out to sea to just give us some clouds, with snow limited to areas to my east, closer to the Atlantic Ocean, more on the Eastern Shore across the Chesapeake Bay. Thursday another arctic outbreak follows the storm, with highs in the mid 20s under partly cloudy, windy skies, lows down around 6°. Friday should be even colder, with highs in the mid-upper teens, lows heading down towards 0° under mostly sunny, still windy conditions with dangerous wind chill temperatures. On Saturday the peak of the cold air will be over us with lessening winds, highs in the mid-upper teens and lows around 5° under mostly sunny skies. Sunday should be mostly sunny and not as cold, with highs in the upper 20s and lows in the low 20s. Look for a warm up next week with highs above freezing in the 30s and even 40s, and lows mostly in the 20s.

On the Channel 4 weather website at 0826 radar is showing our developing storm down in the SE US, with a mix of rain, freezing rain and snow falling in of all places northern Florida, starting to move NE into SE GA and coastal SC.

As of 0826, the data from the VP2 (coming from the ground radiation shield about 4 feet off the ground just under and out from the balcony) and the Lakewood WXBug station are as follows :

Station Relative Location Temp RH DP   BP     Wind High/Low temp Tuesday
VP2           Ground           14.2  76  8 30.37S   NA     23.0/10.5

There was no accumulation of snow in the cocorahs gauge on Tuesday. The VP2 tipping bucket rain gauge under my balcony recorded no precipitation on Tuesday through midnight, as snow has not been able to melt at all due to the cold, below freezing temps. I am down to a trace of snow on the ground due to sublimation of the snow directly into the atmosphere from the sun and low dew point temps.

January precipitation is 0.00″.

January snowfall is 0.0″.
The seasonal snowfall total is 3.8″.

Year-to-date precipitation total is 0.00″

WX Bug Lakewood 4500 ft, 12 81 8 30.27 Calm G SSE 1
                            140° from station                  25/7

The Lakewood rain gauge showed no precipitation on Tuesday, and no snow melted through. It is reporting on 2018 precipitation now, at 0.00″ so far.

Temp from the VP2 at 2400 was 15.5 RH 64 % BP 30.43F DP 5.5. Clear, cold and dry.

Good morning from the clear, cold, and barely snowy Walrus early on this Wednesday morning. Most of my 0.5″ snow accumulation has been reduced down to a trace on the ground. Once again, Happy New Year everyone!