The Snow Is Light But Has a Wide Reach

After a long stretch of chilly days, the Washington area got another sharp taste of winter yesterday, when measurable snow fell in many spots. The effect on highway traffic was noticeable.

About 7 p.m., the National Weather Service reported that snow showers were headed east across the Interstate 95 corridor from Baltimore to Washington to Fredericksburg. Although some places received no more than a dusting, as much as half an inch of accumulation was reported.

Interstate 70 in Howard County was "a mess," the Maryland State Police reported. Backups were blamed on slippery conditions caused by snow and ice. Howard County police reported numerous minor automobile crashes. Collisions were also reported in Anne Arundel, Frederick and Fairfax counties.

More than a half-inch of snow was reported in the Linthicum Heights area of Anne Arundel. Spotters in Arlington County, Burke, Damascus, Fair Oaks and Oxon Hill recorded almost a third of an inch after flakes began swirling about 3 p.m. over much of the area.

One-tenth of an inch was reported in the Tysons Corner area.

At Reagan National Airport, Washington's official weather site, measurable snow is not the norm before Dec. 17.

But winter appears to be on an accelerated pace this year. Temperatures over the past three weeks have been markedly lower than normal.

Since Nov. 16, temperatures have risen above normal only twice. Dec. 1 registered one degree above normal, and Thursday was three above.

Yesterday's high was 36 degrees, 14 degrees below normal. The low was 24 degrees, 10 degrees below normal. The average temperature for the day was 30 degrees, below normal for January.