Mother Nature: The Trick is On You, Winter Storm Ahead

The National Weather Service has issued a storm advisory for Howard County.

A winter storm advisory.

Yes, the leaves have just begun to fall and it’s already time to prepare for snow. Not just a little, but five or more inches, according to NWS. 

Precipitation is expected to start late tonight as a “wintry mix” of rain and snow. Saturday morning it should change to heavy, wet snow, according to NWS, and persist through the afternoon. 

But this isn't record-early snowfall; according to NWS, the earliest measurable snow in this area was Oct. 10, 1979. On , we had a high temperature of almost 80 degrees.

NWS is warning that heavy snow may cause power outages and broken limbs – be weary of those since the hurricane and ensuing rain storms of last month.

“Heavy wet snow combined with leaves on trees can weigh down and break branches causing road hazards and downed wires. Additionally, light snow on leaves creates slick conditions, so please slow down and stay alert,” Acting State Highway Authority Administrator Darrell Mobley said in a statement.  

“SHA has learned some valuable lessons from previous early season storms,” said Acting State Highway Authority Administrator Darrell Mobley, “So please take this seriously and be careful." 

SHA recommends Marylanders start working on "winter survival kits" now, and take these precautionary measures:

• Check tire inflation pressures; air contracts as temperatures get colder. For every 10 degrees Fahrenheit change in outside temperature, tire inflation pressure changes about one psi.
• Check car fluids
• Keep an extra mobile phone charger and/or charged extra batteries in the vehicle
• Stock a flash light and extra batteries
• Keep a bag of road salt, sand and/or cat litter in the trunk
• Keep jumper cables handy
• Put a small shovel in the vehicle
• Have a basic tool kit and flares/road reflectors

And maybe it's a good time to brush up on winter driving skills.

To prepare, SHA crews are cleaning out drains, getting salt trucks ready and even attaching plows to trucks in case there is serious accumulation -- although that isn’t expected as the ground is still relatively warm despite low temperatures.

Temperatures are expected to drop to about 37 degrees tonight and, according to NWS, they won’t get much warmer during the day Saturday, with a forecasted high of just 40 degrees.

This article has been edited to reflect the year of the earliest snow; it was 1979.