Blizzard conditions confirmed for Baltimore and southern Maryland

The record snowfall had a wide range across the region and the final total is still under debate and controversy for Baltimore. One thing though has been confirmed from the storm, verifying the blizzard.  That is a term that is overused and often improperly used.  Technically, a blizzard is defined by heavy snow with rates of 1 inch per hour, visibility below 1/4 mile, and winds sustained (or frequent gusts) of 35 mph for 3 consecutive hours.  It is not just about heavy snow, and this time it was for real.  According to the National Weather Service, this was confirmed in two locations in Maryland.  This picture is from the Baltimore Washington Office of the National Weather Service with their Doppler Radar Dome.  See more storm pictures in the slide show below.

Baltimore Washington International Airport confirmed blizzard conditions between midnight and 5 am on Saturday February 6th.  Winds gusted to 37 mph with heavy snow that may have fallen at rates over 3 inches per hour with lightning and thunder. While BWI has posted an 'estimated' total of 24.8" for the official Baltimore snow total, two locations within 2 miles posted totals over 30 inches.  See the latest snow report here... which is still not final until confirmed.  See area pictures from the storm by clicking this image.

The second location with confirmed blizzard conditions was in St. Mary's County between noon and 4 PM on Saturday February 6th.  The Patuxent River Naval Air Station clocked winds up to 41 mph with 1/8 mile visibility.

According to NWS:

NEAR-BLIZZARD CONDITIONS...WHICH MET THE COUPLED VISIBILITY AND WIND 
CRITERIA THAT OCCURRED OCCASIONALLY DURING THE STORM...BUT FELL 
BELOW THE 3 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE HOUR CONSTRAINT OF THE FORMAL 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEFINITION OF A BLIZZARD...WERE OBSERVED IN 
ANNAPOLIS MD...RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT...DULLES 
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...AND ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE IN PRINCE 
GEORGES COUNTY MD.

AS WITH ANY MAJOR CLIMATE RECORD ACHIEVEMENT...THESE PRELIMINARY 
RECORDS WILL BE QUALITY CONTROLLED BY NOAA'S NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA 
CENTER OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.