Local meteorologists are monitoring two potential storm systems early in January. Confidence is increasing that next week will bring some wintry precipitation, though amounts remain uncertain. A minor system on Friday could also produce scattered snow showers, possibly leaving a light coating (or more) in some areas.
The next possibility for a more significant system is expected around January 5-6, primarily affecting the DC metro area on Monday. Different models show varying tracks, with the GFS (American) model showing a miss to the south, while the Euro (European model) indicates a more organized system passing through and possibly dropping some snow on the area.
Further out, another storm threat is possible between January 7 and 12, which may have a higher potential for significant snowfall. However, model predictions remain inconsistent, and forecasters advise waiting for more data to clarify the timing and impact of these systems. We’ll keep you updated as conditions evolve. FOX5’s Mike Thomas has a great thread discussing the possibilities here:
So to end 2024 I thought it would be fun to compare the 500mb pattern in the forecast period towards the middle of the month, with the two blizzards that have been showing up the most as being matching analogs.
Here's how the European Ensemble, the most accurate model we have… pic.twitter.com/KGqhA9104P
— Mike Thomas (@MikeTFox5) January 1, 2025