Southern Maryland – Ah yes, the old weather roller coaster has us dipping and diving like kids on that steep twisty up and down curvy amusement ride called winter in Southern Maryland. Maybe it’s global warming. Maybe it’s a cyclical thing, like the old watermen used to say. Maybe we’re just lucky.
We certainly were this week, when Niko blasted New York City and New England with more than a foot of snow in places. At first, it appeared as if Southern Maryland might be in the loop as well, but then the storm took a more northward turn, leaving us with a few flurries and a lot of wind.
Now the National Weather Service (NWS) is saying that by Sunday temperatures will return to the balmy climes that preceded this week’s brief winter interlude. Before you pull out your shorts and t-shirts out of storage, however, you should remember that the Farmer’s Almanac has predicted February’s third week to be the one where we get clobbered.
/articles/1116/farmersalmanacsaysgetreadyforwinter.html
And as if you need reminding that it is still winter, here are a few sugary sprinkles for that snow cupcake. Just going chronologically, recent history dictates that while some of you may not believe that pesky rodent who keeps seeing his shadow every Feb. 2, he may know more than we admit. For instance, in late February of 2003, everybody from the mid-Atlantic region through Southern New England got hammered. In 2007, a huge Valentine’s Day storm dumped 1 to 3 feet in parts of New York and New England. Southern Maryland got some of that love.
There have been winter storms in March, too. The Great White Hurricane of 1888 struck March 11-14 and is still considered one of the most vicious storms to ever batter the coast. And consider this: This colossal storm, which resulted in more than 400 deaths and paralyzed major cities, including Washington, D.C., New York and Boston and everything in between, was preceded by uncharacteristically warm weather. In the next 10 years, New York’s first underground subway was established, partly in response to the immobilization caused by the storm. The last late-season whopper occurred March 12-15, 1993 and was responsible for 300 deaths and $6 to $10 billion in damages. This monster storm made its presence felt in 26 states, dumping several feet of snow on some areas that rarely saw the stuff. Its impact was felt from Jacksonville, FL all the way up to the eastern coast of Canada.
So remember, be prepared in case the Farmer’s Almanac might know something you don’t.
It pretty much boils down to where we were when last those soft warm breezes of summer stirred us to go lay on a beach. Wish for spring and wait for the winter, which so far admittedly, hasn’t been much of one, to be over.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com