Amazing snoWatch

DECEMBER 19, 2004
The skies over Montgomery County are darkening again, and a chill wind nips at noses and under mittens. All around, merry children are wearing their pajama pants backwards, doing snow dances and praying for snow; the not-so-merry kids are doing things like sacrificing goats to the dark snow gods. As you breathlessly wait on the eve of this winter's first real possibility of snow, the snoWatch crew is working hard to bring you up to the second, vaguely accurate information and predictions.

The research process began with an assessment of weather-prediction sources slightly more credible than ours (a magical crystal ball that a gypsy sold us). Weather.com started us off with a shocker. "Forecast data no longer valid," their site page read for today's weather prediction. Looks like someone took the easy way out. If only we could all be like weathermen….

"Sorry, but my homework is no longer valid to be collected.”

Anyway, here's what the experts are saying:

Accuweather says : The weather service is predicting a small flurry in the evening with no accumulation. However, their little graphic has snowflakes in it, so there still might be hope.

National Weather Service says : A chance of rain and snow showers before 7pm, then a chance of snow. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible for the evening. In the early morning, a 30 percent chance of snow showers before 7am. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

snoWatch prediction: That's a lot of chances and too many possibilities for us in those descriptions, kids. Better do your homework and set your alarm clocks, because there's probably going to be school tomorrow. The best shot is a delayed opening caused by icy roads, as temperatures will remain below freezing and rain and light snow could freeze over on side streets.

35 percent chance of a delayed opening
5 percent chance of a closure

snoWatch question: In light of the severe weather warning, why does this guy look so happy?

Live Forecast

Photo: