Winter is still a few months away, but a new long-range forecast is already giving D.C. residents an idea of what could be ahead.
The Farmers’ Almanac is predicting a changeable winter across the D.C. region, with snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain all possible depending on storm tracks and temperatures.
Meanwhile, a strong El Niño is expected to influence the winter pattern, potentially making for an active and unpredictable season across the Mid-Atlantic.
What is the general forecast for this winter in the D.C. region?
The Farmers’ Almanac’s 2026–2027 winter forecast calls for an active season across the Mid-Atlantic, with coastal storms potentially bringing snow and wintry precipitation to the region.
The forecast does not point to a winter dominated by nonstop cold and snow. Instead, temperatures could frequently hover around the freezing mark, meaning small changes in storm tracks or temperatures could determine whether D.C. gets rain, snow, sleet or freezing rain.
El Niño will be one of the major factors influencing the season. NOAA expects El Niño to strengthen into the winter, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event during the fall and winter.
The Farmers’ Almanac also says an additional storm track could develop along the Eastern Seaboard, creating more opportunities for precipitation across the Mid-Atlantic.
When will the District experience its first snow?
D.C. residents may have to wait until late November or December for the first measurable snowfall of the season.
The Farmers’ Almanac places much of the Mid-Atlantic, including Maryland and Virginia, in that general window for the first accumulating snow. FOX 5 DC has also highlighted late November through December as the period to watch for D.C.’s first snowfall.
That doesn’t necessarily mean a major snowstorm is coming. The first flakes of the season could amount to little more than a brief dusting before melting.
And because temperatures in the District often sit near the rain-snow line, the exact timing will depend heavily on the track of the first significant winter storm.
Will temperatures be as bad as last year?
Last winter left D.C. residents with a particularly unpleasant reminder of what prolonged cold and heavy snow can do to the city.
After January’s major snowstorm, piles of hardened snow and ice lingered around the District for days. The material became so difficult to remove that the term “snowcrete” became a common description of the concrete-like mixture left behind.
Poorly cleared streets, sidewalks and other public spaces also generated plenty of frustration as the city struggled to keep up with the cleanup.
This year’s forecast doesn’t necessarily suggest a repeat of that exact scenario. Instead, the bigger concern may be frequent swings between snow, ice and rain as temperatures fluctuate around freezing.
For now, D.C. residents can mark late November through December as the first window to watch for the season’s first measurable snow.
