Steve Burns
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON – (WMAL) After cautioning for days that we are still too far out for any responsible predictions, National Weather Service forecasters are now coalescing around a general forecast of six to eight inches of snow for the immediate D.C. Metro area, with the possibility for big snowfall variations on either side of the Beltway.
“It looks like there could at least be some very light snow or possibly a rain/snow mix that moves in after 5p.m. on Monday, but we’re expecting the brunt of the heavy snow to likely fall between 9 p.m. (Monday) and 8 a.m. (Tuesday), give or take a couple hours,” National Weather Service Meteorologist Andrew Snyder said. The Monday evening commute should be spared for most, but the same cannot be said for Tuesday morning.
Probability of a significant winter storm late Monday-Tuesday is still increasing. Winter Storm Watches in effect for much of the area. pic.twitter.com/SMF7E9NhA5
— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) March 12, 2017
The snowfall predictions are still tricky, as just a few miles could separate an area that gets two inches with an area that gets eight or more, Snyder said.
“We’re still looking at the potential for a gradient of accumulations across the Washington Metro area, where areas to the southeast of the Beltway could see between two and six inches, and areas to the northwest side of the Beltway could see eight inches or more,” Snyder said. “Where that lines up and if there’s any rain that mixes in will determine the exact amounts.”
Winds will not be a major issue, Snyder said, but the heavy, wet snow could still lead to downed branches and power outages.
“Depending on the exact track of the low pressure system, that’ll determine how much warm air works its way up into the area, and that could cause some mixing with rain or sleet at times,” Snyder said. “If that were to occur, then the totals would be lower.”
The snow won’t be in a hurry to melt either, as temperatures will be staying in the mid-winter range for the next few days.
“It looks like we at least have a pretty good chance of getting above freezing during the daylight hours of each day,” Snyder said. “Even on Tuesday after the storm it looks like we’ll be rising above freezing for part of the day. We’ll probably just see some gradual melting each day through the remainder of the week, but it is going to remain below normal with temperatures generally in the 30s and 40s, so it won’t be a fast melt.”
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