An analysis of operational satellite data from historic Baltimore and Washington DC area 2009/2010 winter storms

Several major snowfalls occurred in the Middle Atlantic region during the winter of 2009/2010. Two cases in particular, December 18-20 and February 5-6, produced copious snowfall totals across the Baltimore and Washington DC metropolitan area. Satellite data were integral to the analysis of the winter storm systems - both on their approach the Middle Atlantic and as they impacted the region. In this paper, an analysis of baseline and experimental satellite products available to forecasters at NOAA's National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington Forecast Office is conducted for these two winter storms is conducted.