Snow Squalls Tomorrow Afternoon. A Significant Storm Possible Early Monday

Thursday, January 2, Noon

A reinforcing cold front with an associated Clipper system will cross the area Friday afternoon and may bring some snow squalls. Models have been focusing on right around sunset for any shower activity, but with temperatures expected to be above freezing, any impacts should be relatively minor.

Behind the front will be gusty winds and even colder temperatures for the weekend, setting up what may be our first accumulating snowfall of the season Sunday night and Monday. We are still over three days out so details still have to be ironed out. My biggest concern is that over the past 24 hours, models have been consistently ticking north with the system, which could introduce the dreaded mixed precip, or even all sleet. Presently, both the early Euro and midday GFS runs have central MD in the “all-snow zone,” but there isn’t much wiggle room left as some sleet is being depicted just south and east of DC. I am admittedly concerned the north trend isn’t over, but hopefully models have made their biggest adjustments and won’t have any serious shifts over the next few days. It’s still a early to talk about potential snowfall, but regardless of whether we are all snow or not, there is growing consensus that Monday morning’s commute will be impacted.

More later.