This has been the winter for people that hate winter weather.  We just can't seem to buy more than 2 inches of snow or 0.20 inch of ice.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I would figure at some point we must get something better than that.  As always, I say if it is going to be cold, it might as well snow.

So here we are talking about Friday's happenings, with some moderate sleet at about 5 in the morning, then a quick changeover to freezing rain.  This was about it for the day, as a large gap in the action took place for much of the day, and then a coastal low formed off the coast, stealing the remainder of the moisture which passed through the mountains and died overhead.  I am overall pleased with all of the closings for the day, but would have definitely opted for a two-hour delay if I were a business or school.  The sleet and freezing rain did have an effect on the roadways (especially side streets and overpasses) and did cause a 30 car pile-up on I-270.

I think we did a relatively good job with the forecast, as snow did move into the region to the northwest in the early morning hours, before eventually changing to sleet and freezing rain around 5am.  That freezing rain turned to rain for much of the latter part of the morning though, which wasn't exactly as I was expecting.  I definitely had a bad suspicion that this was going to be the case when I heard the hard sleet at 5am and checked the surface map and did not see any northeasterly winds to help keep in the colder air in at the surface.  My suspicions were further elevated once I saw the 12z (7am) sounding (AKA Weather Balloon) which showed weak southerly winds at the surface, and a nose of warm air between 900mb - 750mb.  Shown Below...

Once I saw that, checked the radar imagery to find out that our thoughts about the split occurring over our region was coming true, as much of the snowfall went to our north through Pennsylvania, and much of the rainfall stayed to our south as energy was transferred to the coast.

Unfortunately, I would have liked to see at least one nice powerful system come through and wreak a little havoc with some decent snowfall, but I really don't see that happening.  I guess I will wait it out until next year.  Until then, lets get out of this cold streak and get some warmer weather in here!!!  In exactly one week and one day, I am off to Costa Rica, 10 degrees latitude, to bask in the 90 degree weather, and surf on some of those perfect swells.  Anyone a little jealous???