While this has already been one of the whitest winters in over half a decade this year for the District, another snowstorm may be on the way to the nation’s capital later this week to drop off yet another layer of snow!
The question is not whether or not the ‘Polar Vortex’ currently sweeping the midwest and northeast United States will hit Washington, D.C., but rather to what degree the vortex impacts the District… Will it snow? When is it supposed to snow? How much is it going to snow?
Reports say Washington, D.C. unlikely to experience ‘severe’ snowfall
According to meteorologists, the District will undoubtedly be hit by the incoming ‘Polar Vortex’ which carries frigid air with it down from the Arctic regions of North America.
The vortex is also bringing an “Arctic high-pressure system” making it a perfect delivery mechanism for heavy snowfall along its path.
However, while the weather report suggests D.C. is 80% likely to experience snowfall this Thursday, it will likely fail to accumulate beyond one inch.
When is it supposed to start snowing in the D.C. Area?
There are some varying reports with some stating the snow could start as soon as Wednesday evening and others suggesting that snowfall won’t begin until Thursday morning.
In either case, overnight sustained snowfall is unlikely as temperatures are expected to drop too low to sustain the precipitation; temperatures are expected to get into the low 20s on Wednesday night – which supports the prediction that the snow will be unable to accumulate to more than one inch in depth.
What Washingtonians should expect – brittle cold and more winds
According to the same reports that suggest D.C. will likely avoid the snow, the capital city will not escape the cold grip of the incoming vortex with temperatures in the mid-to-low 20s over the next two nights with highs during the days of only around 30 degrees.
Additionally, Weather Channel’s report suggest a continuation of the brutal winds that rocked the D.C. area earlier this week – with gusts expected to reach over 20 mph this Thursday.