Final Snow Totals Confirm Sharp Gradient Across Maryland and Southeastern Pennsylvania After December 14 Storm

MARYLAND — A fast-moving winter storm delivered a wide range of snowfall amounts across Maryland and southeastern Pennsylvania on Sunday, with totals varying dramatically from a light coating near Washington, D.C., to more than 8 inches in higher terrain farther north and west. Updated spotter reports and final mapping now provide a clear picture of where the storm reached peak intensity.

Heaviest Snowfall Zones

The storm’s strongest band aligned across north-central Maryland and southeastern Pennsylvania, producing the highest totals in these areas:

North-Central Maryland (Baltimore, Carroll, Harford Counties):
Widespread 3 to 5 inches, with isolated 6-inch totals near northern Baltimore County and western Harford County.
Western Maryland Highlands:
Locations such as McHenry and Mountain Lake Park recorded 8 to 12 inches, the highest observed totals in the region.
Southeastern Pennsylvania (Philadelphia Suburbs):
From Lancaster through Pottstown and into Chester and Montgomery Counties, final totals ranged from 5 to 8 inches.
Washington Metro Region:
Warmer surfaces limited accumulation to a coating to 1 inch, significantly lower than locations just north and west.

Where Forecasts Performed Well

Meteorologists tracking the system earlier in the week successfully identified:

A strong snow band developing across central Maryland into southeastern Pennsylvania
A consistent 3- to 6-inch corridor north of Baltimore
Narrow but intense snowfall zones tied to the clipper system’s forcing
Early-morning reports of Thundersnow in parts of Maryland, confirming strong convective elements

What Fell Short in the Forecast

Some elements of the storm behaved differently than models suggested:

Warm ground temperatures played a bigger role than expected near Washington, Annapolis, and southern Maryland, cutting totals sharply
The southern edge of steady snow shifted slightly north, reducing accumulation in previously outlined lower-Maryland zones
Melting during the early stages of the event reduced the final numbers south of I-70

Final Regional Snowfall Snapshot

Maryland:

Baltimore City/County: 3.0 to 5.0 inches, isolated higher totals
Columbia, Ellicott City, Germantown: 1.5 to 4.0 inches
Washington Metro: Coating to 1.0 inch

Southeastern Pennsylvania:

Lancaster, Norristown, West Chester: 5.0 to 7.5 inches
Philadelphia: Mostly 5 to 6 inches

Western Maryland:

Garrett County highlands: 8 to 12 inches

These totals reflect the final verified reports compiled through local spotters and regional weather networks.

What Residents Should Expect Next

Cold air behind the system will promote overnight refreezing, especially in shaded and untreated areas. Drivers should expect slick conditions early Monday. Additional light precipitation may develop later in the week, but no major snowfall signal has emerged at this time.

Stay Informed

For continuing weather updates, storm analysis, and regional coverage, follow ChicagoMusicGuide.com for the latest alerts and reports.