After disappointing snowfall last year, D.C. area residents should have their shovels handy.
Veronica Johnson, chief meteorologist for 7News First Alert Weather, told 海角精品黑料 that the First Alert Weather team is predicting 17 to 22 inches of snow for the D.C. metro area this coming winter. She said the average snowfall for D.C. is 13.6 inches.
In fact, counties farther north and west, including Loudoun County, Virginia, and Frederick County, Maryland, could see as much as 30 inches of snow throughout this winter.
As for Christmas?
“I don’t think we can expect a White Christmas,” Johnson said. “But I’m not going to rule out a few snowflakes that may come mixing in.”
Johnson said that starting in late December or early January, you can expect a lot of minor storm systems.
WINTER 2023-2024 D.C. AREA聽MONTHLY PREDICTION
| DECEMBER 2023 | 1″ WITH WINTRY MIX STORMS |
| JANUARY 2024 | 2-4″ SNOW |
| FEBRUARY 2024 | 12-15″ SNOW |
| MARCH 2024 | 2-3″ SNOW |
| TOTAL EXPECTED聽 | 17-22″ FOR D.C., SURROUNDING COUNTIES |
“We really have to watch these events producing less in the way of snowfall and more [of a] wintry mix and more icy mix,” she said.
How many snow days will local students get this winter?
Johnson tells 海角精品黑料 the biggest storms are predicted for February and there’s the possibility the area could see one or two nor’easters.
“There’s no bigger weight that is put into this forecast for this winter season than El Ni帽o. And right now, it’s looking like we’re going to have not just an El Ni帽o here, but a strong El Ni帽o that is going to continue into early spring,” Johnson said.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, El Ni帽o is a climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that .
Johnson explained this will be the first winter El Ni帽o in four years and the first strong El Ni帽o in seven years.
Recent Reagan National Airport (DCA) Snowfall Totals
Winter Season* |
Total Snow |
El Ni帽o/La Ni帽a |
| 2022-2023 | 0.4″ | La Ni帽a |
| 2021-2022 | 13.1″ | La Ni帽a |
| 2020-2021 | 5.4″ | La Ni帽a |
| 2019-2020 | 0.6 | |
| 2018-2019 | 15.5″ | El Ni帽o |
*A winter season is defined as the months of December, January and February, but snowfalls can extend into March.
Johnson said temperatures this winter season are expected to be slightly above average, with the most potent cold bursts happening in February.
She said forecasting winter weather is becoming more difficult because of climate change. In general, cold snaps are shrinking, which means less snowfall.
While a stronger El Ni帽o episode doesn’t guarantee more snow, stronger El Ni帽o episodes have brought warmer average temperatures and high precipitation in the D.C./Baltimore area, according to NOAA.
