Will we see an unusually cold winter or a moderate one? Will we get any snow?
Long-range forecasts are tricky, but that doesn’t stop meteorologists from trying to look months into the future to provide seasonal predictions.
The answer to most of the questions about the upcoming winter weather is… well, it depends on who you ask.
The Old Farmers’ Almanac says to prepare for a “Season of Shivers” with cold temperatures but mostly-dry conditions in our part of the mid-Atlantic.
“This coming winter could well be one of the longest and coldest that we’ve seen in years,” according Janice Stillman, editor of The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
AccuWeather’s meteorologists say a weak La Niña this winter could affect the weather, particularly in the second half of the season. They agree with The Old Farmers’ Almanac that winter could arrive earlier than normal. While we may see a slight thaw in mid-December, January will be colder than usual.
Snowfall could also be lower than normal in the D.C. metro region. “AccuWeather is predicting between 7 and 11 inches of snow for the winter in Washington, D.C., which is slightly more than the 5.4 inches that fell last winter but still below the average of 15.6 inches. The city hasn't measured above-normal snowfall since the winter of 2018-2019,” AccuWeather reported.
The scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have a different take: Their long-term forecast for the winter calls for temperatures slightly above normal from December through February. Like the other forecasters, though, they predict the winter months will be relatively dry.
Snow lovers may need to head a bit further inland and to the north to see much of the white stuff this winter.
