DC-area television stations NBC4, FOX5, ABC7, and WUSA9 have all released their 2025-2026 winter outlooks, giving residents an early look at what the season may bring. As we do each year, MoCoSnow has compared the four forecasts to highlight similarities, differences, and who is calling for the most, or least, snow across the region.
NBC4 calls for a colder-than-average winter with above-normal snowfall. Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer projects 18-30 inches for most of Montgomery County, 26-40 inches for Frederick and areas farther northwest, and 13-20 inches for Washington, D.C. and communities to the south. Kammerer expects several snow events, including one or two big storms capable of producing six inches or more. He notes that many systems could begin as rain before flipping to snow and compares this upcoming season to winters such as 1967-68, 2013-14, and last year’s 14.9 inches at National Airport.
FOX5’s winter outlook from meteorologists Mike Thomas and Tucker Barnes calls for 12-18 inches of snow for the D.C. metro, 6-12 inches toward the Eastern Shore, and 18-30 inches or more in western Maryland and higher elevations. Some areas such as Elkins, West Virginia could see 70-100 inches. FOX5 expects one to three impactful storms (four inches or more), a colder-than-normal December, and the first measurable snow before Christmas for the first time since 2017. January is predicted to be the snowiest month, with a milder trend returning late in the season.
ABC7 is predicting a near-normal winter with 10-20 inches of snow for most of the immediate region. Southern and eastern Montgomery County, along with D.C. and Prince George’s County, fall into the 10-15 inch range, while northern and western Montgomery County and Frederick County fall into the 15-20 inch range. Their outlook is shaped by a slightly milder La Niña pattern, which typically leads to more mixed precipitation events and fewer classic coastal snowstorms. ABC7 expects several plowable storms, with January offering the highest chances for snow and February carrying some late-season potential.
WUSA9’s winter outlook, led by meteorologist Topper Shutt, calls for near-average snowfall. Their projections include 16 inches at National Airport, 24 inches at Dulles, 21 inches in Rockville (matching its long-term average), and 32 inches in Hagerstown. Their regional snowfall map places most of Montgomery County in the 10-20 inch range, with the northwestern portion in the 20-30 inch range. WUSA9 also predicts the first measurable snow to fall on December 12, a date that lines up with typical seasonal timing.
Comparing the four forecasts, NBC4 is projecting the most snow overall, especially for Montgomery and Frederick counties. WUSA9 is next, with a forecast close to historical averages but still slightly higher for some areas. FOX5 calls for near-normal to slightly above-normal snowfall, while ABC7 has the lowest totals, keeping much of the region between 10 and 20 inches.
Despite differences in snowfall amounts, all four outlets agree on several themes: January should be the most active month for snow, December will begin colder than normal, La Niña will influence the pattern, and multiple plowable storms are likely.
Looking back at last winter, Washington, D.C. recorded 14.9 inches of snow and Dulles saw 15.5 inches. NBC4 predicted 6-13 inches for D.C., slightly under the final total. FOX5 predicted 4-10 inches for D.C. and Montgomery County, the lowest estimate among the four and well short of the actual outcome. ABC7 projected 5-10 inches for D.C. and 10-15 inches for upper Montgomery County, slightly under but closer than FOX5. WUSA9 projected 10-20 inches for most of the region and ended up being the most accurate overall.
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