With a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for parts of Maryland and Northern Virginia, including northwest Montgomery County, attention has shifted squarely to the morning commute and the possibility of school delays or closures across the region and FOX5 meteorologist Mike Thomas has provided a prediction.
Earlier today, MoCoSnow released its latest prediction, issuing a 2-pencil forecast (rating scale available below). The outlook noted that while Frederick, Carroll, and Washington counties in Maryland, along with Loudoun County in Virginia, are more likely to see impactful wintry precipitation, Montgomery County’s concern is limited mainly to its northernmost communities such as Clarksburg and Damascus. “This doesn’t mean there won’t be any wintry precipitation in other parts of the county,” MoCoSnow shared, “it’s just not expected to be much and should be washed away by the rain.”
This afternoon, FOX5 DC Meteorologist Mike Thomas joined in as a special guest forecaster, and he went even more conservative. “I’ll go 1.5 pencils,” Thomas said. “I think the bulk of the winter action is northwest of MoCo. Timing is your best bet at any delay, but I think there is a better than 50% chance things run on time… say 60/40 no delay. Based on the forecast of all rain by 8- 9am, I don’t see any reason why schools would not be in by 10am even if a delay is issued!”
Thomas’ assessment closely mirrors the broader regional outlook, with the most significant wintry impacts expected north and west of Montgomery County. Meanwhile, The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang posted its own odds for MCPS, giving the county a 30% chance of a delay, 15% chance of a closure, and a 70% chance of a full, on-time day. Northern counties, already expected to see more snow and ice, received higher delay probabilities, around 60% for Frederick, Loudoun, and Carroll. (Frederick County Public Schools already has a planned early dismissal, meaning a delay would effectively translate to no school.)
As always, MoCoSnow will continue monitoring overnight changes, but for now, the region’s expert forecasters are leaning toward a mostly smooth morning for Montgomery County, with the usual weather-related caveats still in play.
