Winter Storm — Western Montgomery, Pennsylvania

2022-03-12 · Western Montgomery, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

Around 4 to 5 inches of snow fell following a transition from rain. Strong winds and falling temperatures also led to several reported power outages and car accidents. A trained spotter in Trappe reported 5.2 inches of snow.

Wider weather episode

A complex weather system brought precipitation to the mid-Atlantic on March 12. Strengthening low pressure tracked from the Southeast US to just off the mid-Atlantic coast, and began to rapidly intensify as it departed towards New England. Unseasonably warm air ahead of the system and its close proximity to the coast caused precipitation to start as rain. However, as the low deepened and as winds shifted to a northwest direction, colder air began to invade, and rain gradually changed to snow from west to east. In some areas, precipitation remained steady to heavy for a few hours after the changeover, allowing several inches of snow to accumulate. Dropping temperatures also led to instances of flash freezing. With the storm rapidly deepening as it moved by and away from the area, winds also increased, exacerbating impacts caused by the wet snow and leading to scattered power outages. More tranquil conditions returned to the region by March 13.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1003546. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.