BLOG: Messy Mix

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Aside from getting somewhat more precip than expected this morning, things are working out pretty much as expected. We are now getting into somewhat of a lull that will last into the early afternoon with precip being light and intermittent.

Heavier precip will come back in later this afternoon and continue through the first part of the night. This precip will change quickly to all snow once it gets underway and we are still looking for a total of 3-6 inches of snow from this storm. It will end well before daybreak tomorrow.

The leading edge of some warmer air aloft caused this "early-morning snow blitz", but it started to taper around 7 or 8 a.m. --- however, there has been a general 1-2 inches on the ground across much of the Greater Baltimore Area by this time. There will be numerous slick spots and travel hazards early, so people should allow extra time to reach their destinations.

The drier air that is trying to work its way towards Washington and Baltimore from the south and west will cause the precipitation to become lighter later this morning, and temperatures should be high enough to not only support snow, but also rain by 9 or 10 a.m. -- so roads will be mostly wet and untreated areas covered by slush before "Round Two" occurs late this afternoon and this evening. The second round of precipitation will be triggered by a strong impulse of jet stream energy that will be pivoting northward along the mid-Atlantic Coast late this afternoon and this evening, so all forms of precipitation will be changing BACK TO SNOW between 3 and 5 p.m. -- and it should last until 9 or 10 p.m. before ending... That second burst will be stronger than its predecessor.