Lake Anna’s First Significant Snowfall Since 2022 Storm, Eckert Explains Weather Phenomenon Behind the Wintry Event

January 17, 2024
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Lake Anna’s first decent snowfall since the storm of Jan 2022. A pretty consistent range of 2-3” for much of the area.

(Snowfall courtesy of CoCoRaHS – https://www.cocorahs.org/Maps/)

This storm was due to what meteorologists called “overrunning”. This happens when a frontal boundary is stalled just south of an area, with cold air to the north and warm air south of the boundary. There usually are several weak areas of low pressure that ride along the boundary, which are a reflection of upper-level impulses riding over the boundary. These impulses and lows act to increase precipitation across the region. If it’s cold enough, we get wintry precipitation on the north side. This is what happened with our event.

(Monday morning weather map showing position of frontal boundary to our south – NOAA/NWS)

The first period of snow was very light with most getting a dusting. The second, was associated with a stronger impulse and associated area of low pressure, and brought us the steady light to occasionally moderate snow Monday afternoon into the evening. A third system is moving this Tuesday morning with some light freezing rain.

Our next chance for snow is Friday, then the pattern changes back to warmth for the last 7-10 days of January.


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Lake Anna’s first decent snowfall since the storm of Jan 2022. A pretty consistent range of 2-3” for much of the area.

(Snowfall courtesy of CoCoRaHS – https://www.cocorahs.org/Maps/)

This storm was due to what meteorologists called “overrunning”. This happens when a frontal boundary is stalled just south of an area, with cold air to the north and warm air south of the boundary. There usually are several weak areas of low pressure that ride along the boundary, which are a reflection of upper-level impulses riding over the boundary. These impulses and lows act to increase precipitation across the region. If it’s cold enough, we get wintry precipitation on the north side. This is what happened with our event.

(Monday morning weather map showing position of frontal boundary to our south – NOAA/NWS)

The first period of snow was very light with most getting a dusting. The second, was associated with a stronger impulse and associated area of low pressure, and brought us the steady light to occasionally moderate snow Monday afternoon into the evening. A third system is moving this Tuesday morning with some light freezing rain.

Our next chance for snow is Friday, then the pattern changes back to warmth for the last 7-10 days of January.


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