John Matthews
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) Sorry, folks. The computer models didn’t suddenly change overnight. The Blizzard of 2016 is still on its way.
Forecasters continue to project snow beginning to fall on Friday – sometime between 11 am and 3 pm, and continuing through Saturday. The National Weather Service is expecting 18 to 24 inches of snow to fall by the time all is said and done. Areas south and east of the I-95 corridor could see a bit less, if warmer air filters in to mix rain and sleet with the snow.
Here’s the latest Blizzard Watch from the National Weather Service:
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL-NORTHERN BALTIMORE-
SOUTHERN BALTIMORE-PRINCE GEORGES-ANNE ARUNDEL-CHARLES-ST. MARYS-
CALVERT-NORTHWEST MONTGOMERY-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY-
NORTHWEST HOWARD-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST HOWARD-NORTHWEST HARFORD-
SOUTHEAST HARFORD-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK-FAIRFAX-
ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-STAFFORD-SPOTSYLVANIA-
KING GEORGE-WESTERN LOUDOUN-EASTERN LOUDOUN-
526 AM EST THU JAN 21 2016
…BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
LATE SATURDAY NIGHT…
* HAZARD TYPES…HEAVY SNOW AND WIND WITH BLOWING AND DRIFTING
SNOW FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. SLEET MAY MIX
WITH THE SNOW FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING EAST OF
INTERSTATE 95…BEFORE CHANGING BACK TO ALL SNOW BY SATURDAY
AFTERNOON.
* ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 18 TO 24 INCHES.
* TIMING…HEAVY SNOW FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT.
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DETERIORATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON WITH
THE HEAVIEST SNOW… STRONGEST WINDS…AND POTENTIAL LIFE
THREATENING CONDITIONS EXPECTED FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY.
* IMPACTS…HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CAUSE DANGEROUS
CONDITIONS AND WILL BE A THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY. TRAVEL
IS EXPECTED TO BE SEVERELY LIMITED IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE DURING
THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY. VISIBILITY
WILL BE REDUCED TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES IN WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.
* WINDS…NORTHEAST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH.
* TEMPERATURES…IN THE UPPER 20S.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY…A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS SEVERE WINTER
WEATHER IS POSSIBLE. USE THIS ADVANCE NOTICE TO PLAN AHEAD!
ADJUST TRAVEL PLANS…AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES. STOCK UP ON
NECESSITIES. MAKE PLANS FOR ELDERLY FAMILY AND THOSE MOST AT
RISK. PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF POWER OUTAGES DURING SNOWY
AND COLD CONDITIONS. USE THIS TIME TO MINIMIZE IMPACT ON YOU…
YOUR FAMILY…AND YOUR COMMUNITY.
A BLIZZARD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES.
THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY
DANGEROUS.
Stay with WMAL News and WMAL.com throughout the weekend for compelete coverage on the Blizzard of 2016!
Copyright 2016 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: National Weather Service)
