If you think the drive into work today was hairy, it may just be the beginning as models are suggesting that next week could be pretty exciting.

First, a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for western areas through early afternoon for freezing rain.  Road surfaces are not that bad, but trees, power lines, and other elevated surfaces continue to ice up, and with saturated ground from the past year of record rainfall, trees are falling in many areas.  You may want to avoid back roads on your commutes this afternoon and overnight in areas west of 95 and north of route 32.

Looking ahead, we have several chances at snow beginning this weekend.  Saturday night into Sunday has potential for a light event, and then a more moderate event is possible Monday.  There are several other chances beyond that, so I’ll update more specifically tomorrow.

What you see is what you get for the overnight hours. Cold air is holding on strong across Central Maryland and freezing rain sleet and snow will continue into the early morning. At some point tomorrow morning, warm air should win and everything should change to just plain rain. Until then expect slippery conditions while driving.

Depending on location, light freezing rain, sleet, and or snow continues across the region at 6AM with all snow continuing to fall along the northern tier a few miles north of I 70, and a wintry mix south of there to around DC.  More of the same can be expected through the morning hours with areas along the bay and to the south the most likely to rise above freezing.  The interior areas of central MD will take a bit longer, and northern MD will probably not get to freezing today.

The second and more potent wave of precipitation will arrive early this afternoon, and there may be some surprises with its arrival.  Models show a period of moderate precipitation rates, and it wouldn’t be surprising that within those heavier rates, there is a burst of moderate snowfall across the region as the column above is cooled sufficiently at all levels. Either way, the PM rush hour today will likely be impacted in central and northern MD by either a wintry mix, and possibly moderate snow.  In areas south near DC and east along the bay, temperatures should be above freezing, but I still wouldn’t be surprised to see a period of snow in these areas later today as well.

The precipitation will continue tonight and Tuesday, and conditions will obviously be determined by what temperatures do.  For now, I think anything south of I 70 will eventually rise above freezing before Tuesday morning, while areas north of there stay below freezing.

I’ll update today, time permitting, with any specific changes.

It seems like the only way we can get snow this year is from departing cold air and warm air overrunning it, and this system looks to do the same.

We’ve got two waves of precipitation coming with the first during the overnight hours tonight.  Light precipitation will begin this evening which should be snow for the entire region, and continue overnight.  Warm air will try to push in from the south, but I think all areas north of the ICC will have some form of frozen precipitation overnight.  Hopefully, it’s just snow because anything else makes untreated surfaces very slippery.   Accumulations will be a coating around DC, to up to 3 inches along the MD/PA line, but generally 1 – 2″ across central MD.  Tomorrow’s AM commute will likely be impacted.

Precipitation may briefly end before sunrise Monday, but another surge of moisture will begin during the morning hours.  There is hope that surface temperatures will rise to above freezing during the lull in precipitation, but models are differing on whether that happens.  My guess is that the cold air holds on longer across central MD and tomorrow still brings more wintry precip, but I’ll update that later tonight or first thing in the morning.

For areas north of I 70, the next 24 hours could end being a sizable snow maker, especially with tomorrow’s steadier precipitation.  I’m hopeful that the cold air across central MD holds and tomorrow brings some good snows to the majority of us too, but no way to know that now.

I’ve been away camping for the weekend but will look over some things and make an update by 4PM. Sorry for the delay!

I’ll be the first to admit that the last few days have been pretty darn nice, but regardless of what Phil says, we’ve still got a lot of winter to get through before spring.  So, enjoy the next 18-24 hours as temperatures will be much above normal until a cold front crosses the region during the late morning on Friday.  Then temperatures will fall back to seasonable conditions for the weekend with sunny skies and brisk winds.  A storm will approach the area early next week, and right now that looks like a classic cold air damming situation where we start as snow and then slowly transition to sleet, freezing rain, and plain rain.  Timing right now looks like Monday night into Tuesday with enough wintry precip to give the region some problems.

A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for all of central MD today. Light snow will develop across the region around 7AM and continue into the afternoon. It will not be a lot of snow, but with very cold temperatures, any untreated surfaces will become icy.  Expect 2-3″ near the PA line and then tapering to a heavy coating south near D.C.  The areas most likely to receive an inch or more are north of the inter county connector (Rt 200). Be careful while traveling today.

After today, milder temperatures for the next week with no wintry weather expected.

The light snow tomorrow morning may be starting earlier than I previously thought, and as a result, the NWS has issued Winter Weather Advisories for central MD for Friday morning’s commute. Light snow is expected to develop across the area in the morning and continue into the afternoon. Accumulations look to be on the lighter side, but any snow at these temperatures could result in icy conditions.

I’ll update later this evening or early tomorrow AM.

Some impressive cold across the area today, but things will warm up significantly over the weekend.  As a result of the warm air aloft pushing in from the southwest tomorrow, light snow is expected to break out across the northern areas of MD during the morning on Friday and continue into the afternoon.  Right now, snow is expected to be the steadiest in northern MD near the PA border where up to an inch or two is expected, and taper to flurries to the south around DC.  As a point of reference, right in between in Columbia, maybe up to an inch is expected.  Timing right now is around 10AM to about 5PM, but I’ll update with more specifics later this evening or first thing tomorrow morning.

For anyone that questioned road conditions this morning and the decision to close schools across most of central MD, you’re about to see what I think was one of the factors in their decision. A serious snow squall accompanied by gusty winds of up to 50 mph will be crossing the area over the next couple of hours. If you are on the roads, be prepared for near whiteout conditions and immediate icy roads. If can put off any driving for the remainder of the afternoon, even better. Behind the front is dangerous cold with air temperatures dropping rapidly into the teens and wind chills dropping well below freezing. Be careful when going outdoors for the next 48 hours.

More on Friday’s potential early tomorrow.