Many Mid-Atlantic mountain locations saw their first accumulating snowfall this weekend

A powerful cold front that swept through the Mid-Atlantic late Saturday helped set the stage for the first measurable snowfall of the year for many in the mountains of the Mid-Atlantic. About one to three inches was common in the high country of West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania as the snow wound down Sunday morning.

While this kind of snow event is far from disruptive in places that receive upward of 100 to 150 inches of snow a year on average, the first accumulation of winter is nonetheless an important milestone.

Given the early-season nature and temperatures just cold enough for wintry precipitation, much of the accumulation happened around 3,000 feet or higher. This accumulating snowfall is more or less right on time for the highest terrain in the Mid-Atlantic.

According to research by NOAA climatologist Deke Arndt, the first snow in the mountainous region of West Virginia up into southern Pennsylvania typically flies around Oct. 5-15. While this region saw flurries last week and a couple locations over 4,000 feet saw as much as an inch, this was the first time wintry precipitation made a big appearance this fall.

West Virginia ski country came in with two to three inches of snow. Davis, W.Va., in the Canaan Valley area, received 2.3 inches. The flakes arrived three days ahead of its average first measurable (Oct. 24) and one week ahead of its average first inch (Oct. 28). The high temperature Sunday was 27 degrees.

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The highest reported total in the region served by the Washington-Baltimore office of the National Weather Service was two inches in West Virginia’s Pendleton County. Similar conditions were seen in far western Maryland, where meteorologist Justin Berk found snow at Wisp Ski Area and around Deep Creek Lake. The Weather Service office in State College received a number of 2.5-inch reports from Somerset County, home of Seven Springs Ski Area, which is just north of the Maryland border.

Since temperatures have already rebounded well above freezing in these areas, any snow remaining is now rapidly melting. It should mostly be gone by day’s end. But with a pattern that remains chilly the next week to 10 days, and a coastal storm threat this weekend, these areas may not have to wait too long until the flakes are flying again.

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