While initial predictions of the 2025 winter weather forecast called for lots of rain and above-average temperatures, there are now conflicting reports that seem to suggest snow could be on its way to the capital sooner than you may guess!
The new weather forecasts, which were shared by both Fox5 DC and NBC4 Washington, state that the DMV area is in for a whiter winter than initially expected.
When is it supposed to snow around Washington, D.C. this winter?
According to the predictions, the first snowfall of the season could come before Christmas!
However, while these new weather forecasts do project more snow in the D.C. area this winter than was initially predicted, they do still warn of a generally wet winter, with lots of rainstorms hitting the District.
So, while the occasional rainfall will convert into a flurry given the right circumstances in the District itself, there will be lots of fluffy white snow in the surrounding areas of the District that are less impacted by the Mid-Atlantic coastal climate, areas like Western Maryland and the Shenandoah Valley, for example.
How much is it going to snow in D.C. this winter?
According to NBC4 Washington’s predictions, the D.C. area will see an estimated 13 to 20 inches of snow throughout the season, which roughly lines up with Fox5 DC’s forecast as well, which was a total of 12 to 18 inches of snow.
It’s worth noting that this year is considered a weak “La Niña” year, which means that we’ll be getting a lot of cold, dry air blowing in from the northwest.
Now, while a “La Niña” weather system does typically bring with it less snow, in past years with similar weather patterns during “La Niña” years, the District experienced a particularly cold start to the winter, with the coldest month being January, and an average of 22.8 inches of snow (which is far above average for the D.C. area).