ISSUED 2:10 pm ESDT THURSDAY (5-4-23) With this all-time historic WV and Canaan High Country May 1 through 3, 2023 snow-storm finally slipping into the rear view mirror and the record books, I have tried to capture some measure of the unprecedented nature of the snowstorm below with both data and pictures from afar. Do doubt local NWS weather observers, visitors, residents, and researchers alike will add a great deal more meat between the buns of this story with their personal accounts and analysis at some future dates. Official National Weather Service (NWS) 3-day (reports received Mon. through Thursday am) of total snowfall amounts for this May 1-3, 2023 snowstorm were: Canaan Heights (3,715 ft.): 20.3 inches Canaan Valley (3,250 ft.): 13.0 inches The snowfall was wet with marginally freezing temperatures and thus clung to everything it came in contact with. Canaan Valley and it's surrounding rim were literally plastered in white like rarely seen in winter, much less in May (Exhibits 1 & 2). A peak wind gust of 50 MPH during the storm was recorded on the western crest of Cabin Mountain early in the event at the Dolly Sods VA Tech professionally sited and equipped weather station located at 4,060 ft. The anemometer froze up after that gust and did not record wind speed much of the remaining storm. New Canaan area May snowfall records set (based on preliminary data) include: - maximum snow depth (at 7 am observation time) of 11 inches (Canaan Heights) - greatest 24-hour snowfall of 10.1 inches (Canaan Heights) - all-time maximum May monthly snowfall total of 20.3 inches (Canaan Heights) An unofficial snow depth (on the ground) measurement of 17-to-20 inches was reported in non-drifted areas near the summit of Bald Knob (4,360 ft.) on Cabin Mountain by Josh Brenneman (Bittinger, MD) the morning of May 4. Josh also reported drifts of around 4 feet near the summit at that time (Exhibit 3). The greatest official snow depth reported in WV (at observation time) during the storm was 15 inches at Snowshoe (at morning observation time), also on the morning of May 4. One of the most incredible aspects of this high elevation snowstorm was the possibly unprecedented tight snowfall gradients with small elevation changes in the area. Basically, below 2,500 feet, while wet snow fell, the above freezing air temperatures and warm, wet ground resulted in little-to-no snow accumulation. A photograph taken May 3 near Harmen, WV (2,350 ft.) just a few miles south of Canaan Valley showed no snow on the ground while maybe 200 feet higher, the hill slopes were completely white (Exhibit 4). Two thousand feet higher, at 4,500 ft. and above, I estimate close to 2 feet piled up on more upslope-favored ridge-tops. Mt. Porte Crayon's broad summit hump reaches 4,770 ft. just northeast of Harmen and contains 5.5 square miles at 4,500 feet or higher). Snowfall amounts were likely closer to 30 inches above 4,500 feet as settling with wet snow lowers snow depth when compared to how much snow actually fell. Canaan Heights measurements illustrate this situation well. While the observer measured 20.3 inches of snowfall, the maximum snow depth at observation time was only 11 inches. Green grass was also reporting on the Corridor H cam at 2,900 ft.on the eastern edge of the Allegheny Front (Eastern Continental Divide) during the height of the storm. The visible snow line was also reported to be only an estimated 500 feet below (3,700 ft.) the Dolly Sods summit ridge (~4,200 ft.) as seen from the east near Seneca Rocks (Exhibit 5). The higher snow line here is likely the result of the typically rapid decline in upslope snow seen on the lee-ward side of the Allegheny Front and quicker adiabatic warming that also occurs as the air descends in elevation moving east. Yet another shocking aspect of the event was the 3-day, 3.46 inches liquid equivalent of snow measured at the Canaan Heights National Weather Service Cooperative weather station. This is in the context that this was mostly an upslope mountain-top driven snow event as evidenced by stations to the east of the Allegheny Front only receiving about one-half inch liquid from the 3-day system. This liquid upslope total of about 3-inches is staggering and may be close to, if not the greatest, liquid precipitation equivalent amount ever recorded for any upslope event in WV. Further analysis is required to better identify this aspect of the storm. Some of these local Canaan Valley High Country measurements are clearly local May records and also likely WV May state snow records. I trust the bigger picture will also be flushed out in the future with more detailed analysis. I'm sure there are more records to uncover but this is a first, basic jab at this unprecedented May snowstorm's historical context. In ending this story, let your Fearless Canaan Weatherman say to Canaan Valley residents and visitors alike....nicer spring weather will gradually creep in into the area this weekend....hang on for some relief. Do you copy? Your Fearless Canaan Weatherman (aka: Bob Leffler)