8:00 AM - The storm is behaving well! Between an inch or two on the ground already and covering the roads. We are under a Winter Storm Warning with 4-6 inches expected by the NWS. I am expecting 3-5 inches now. The main question with the event is if the snow truly enhances late morning/midday. The storm was always a two part storm, the initial morning punch then a enhancement around midday which would allow the snow to persist deeper into the afternoon. I do believe this will happen, yet there may be a short lull late this morning before the second piece of energy arrives and low pressure deepens near off the coast.
With that said I expect a steady snow through 2 PM, then snow will vary with intensity more until 5 PM where it dissipates into showers. Watch out for a lull late morning, the event is not over, just taking a breather.
9:45 AM - Look at the radar at this time (you can scroll/choose your time frame) and you will notice the heavier snow rates are slowly exiting to the east and deteriorating. At this point Westminster is out of this heavier snow band and enter into a moderate to light snow rate. This is the lull in heavier snow rates I was talking about before enhancement by midday. The band will stick around a little longer for areas and south and east (Owings Mills, Towson, Columbia) until strengthening around midday. There is a chance that areas south and east stay in this heavier band all the way up to its strengthening, these areas may see no lull in their heavier snow rates.
12:00 PM - Light snow has persisted for the last two hours but the storm is beginning to enhance snow rates in the region.
Any roads which have been plowed has not supported stickage due to the light snow rates and the sun's rays (yes its power can go through the clouds although it is limited). With Moderate snow rates underway, roads could become snow covered again in areas that are now clear. The steady stuff should get out of here between 3 and 5 PM leaving us with showers this evening and night.
1:30 PM - Well, the initial enhancement of snow that was in the process of happening actually fell apart. I say initial because there still is a chance for areas to get a bump of snow before this is all over. The question of when, if, and where the enhancement happens is a good one and the best method there is to monitor the radar like I have been. It is likely however that most areas will continue to see light snow the rest of the afternoon then taper off around 6 PM. I will note however that as we get closer to sunset, the sun angle decreases and there is more of a chance for stickage with lighter snow rates.
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