More rain this weekend

After a little sleet and a few wet snow flakes on Friday, the weather has turned mild again with rain moving into the area. We're supposed to get a flooding rain tonight and tomorrow, up rainfall totals up to 1" or 2". After the rain storm, the weather is supposed to turn cold again with a good threat for a winter storm later in the week. That storm may provide the best opportunity for a good winter photo for the month of January. We'll see how the weather unfolds during the week.

Just rain this weekend

A week ago, it appeared the Washington area may be in for a big winter storm this weekend. Even AccuWeather hyped the chance for a big snow early in the week. As time went on, it became clear that it would be too warm for snow. Ultimately, we received a soaking rain and most of the snow is gone. I did capture a scene of ice flowing down the Potomac River, just south of Washington.

Tidal Basin Ice

Sunrise at the Tidal Basin, Saturday January 9, 2010.

I made a trip to the Tidal Basin early Saturday morning to shoot the sunrise. The Tidal Basin was ice-covered with wind-blown snow that fell two days earlier, small drifts about 6" deep were on the hillside facing the water. I set up my tripod on the edge of the Tidal Basin trail, facing the Jefferson, and photographed from dawn to sunrise. It got a bit chilly, my toes were quite cold. Above is the sunrise, below is dawn.


Dawn at the Tidal Basin, Saturday January 9, 2010.

The first photo could be a calendar photo for January 2011, provided we don't get any more winter weather this month. I'm looking forward to the chance of a big storm next weekend. It's too soon, however, to know if this will be snow, rain, or a miss to the south.

Clipper Snowstorm

A quick moving Alberta Clipper dropped almost 2" of snow across the area last night. This should hopefully coat the ground and any ice on the Tidal Basin for a photo shoot tomorrow morning near the Jefferson. Depending if we get more winter storms this month, this may be the photo for January in the calendar. We'll see... Regardless, it will be a cold photo shoot.

Light snow on the way

I'm planning a sunrise shoot this weekend after our mini snowstorm that is scheduled to hit tomorrow night. With the ice on the Tidal Basin and a little fresh snow, it should make for an interesting landscape for photography. I doubt there will be good color in the sky at sunrise since the weather should be clear and cold.

December's Photo

Because the Washington Weather calendar is published in November to be available for the holidays, I usually try to choose a December photo from the previous year or two. This past December provided many good photo ops. Here are a few shots that I am considering:







My entries at Capital Weather for these photos can be found at:


Christmas Eve at Mount Vernon

and


White Christmas Dream becomes a reality