Snowstorm next weekend?

[Anonymous]

❄️ Capital Weather Gang
Winter storm timeline — here’s how we see it unfolding

We’re getting a lot of questions about when things go downhill. Here’s our current thinking for the D.C. area (timing may shift a bit as we refine):

🕓 4–10 p.m. Saturday
Light snow develops from SW → NE
Temps: 16–20°

🌙 10 p.m. Sat – 4 a.m. Sun
Snow spreads and intensifies
Accumulation begins quickly once steady
Temps: 16–20°

⏰ 4–10 a.m. Sunday (worst window)
Heavy snow at times, rapid accumulation
Snow may begin mixing with sleet/freezing rain, mainly south & east of the Beltway
Temps: 15–20°

🕙 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday
North & west: mostly snow, some mixing possible
Near the Beltway: snow + sleet + freezing rain
South & east: mainly sleet and freezing rain
Temps: 18–24°

🌆 4–10 p.m. Sunday
Mixed precip gradually tapers SW → NE
Temps: 20–25°

🌙 Late Sunday night – early Monday
Lingering mixed precip or freezing drizzle possible
Temps: 17–22°

⚠️ Bottom line:
We expect the worst travel conditions predawn through mid-morning Sunday, but with bitter cold, untreated roads will stay treacherous long after the heaviest snow ends.

👉 Full detailed briefing in the comments

Posted 9a Thursday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't going to be as major as you all hope.

Thanks. This post will be formally documented so that if school opens next week you may return and exclaim, “I told you so.”

Moving on…

And conversely, we can use it to say, “I told you school wouldn’t open!” Ha!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PWCS Teacher- If we are closed all week we might go online.. We are testing Zoom links

FCPS is already closed Thursday and Friday of next week. Wednesday is a 2 hour early release. I doubt they’re planning to do the same.

FCPS doesn’t switch to online instruction.

It’s not happening.

[Anonymous]

Went to the store this am. They were out of the leaner cuts of ground beef and milk was getting very low.

[Anonymous]

The kids are going to be very unhappy if this is a bust. I kind of hope for a big storm but that is only because I can work from home now and it doesn't eat into my PTO. I know plenty of people who are praying it is a bust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids are going to be very unhappy if this is a bust. I kind of hope for a big storm but that is only because I can work from home now and it doesn't eat into my PTO. I know plenty of people who are praying it is a bust.

Hard to see a true bust. The setup (primarily overrunning precipitation that isn't dependent on a big storm forming) is generally easier to capture on the computer models. The big open question is the snow/sleet breakdown but that breakdown also is likely irrelevant to storm impacts -- 2" of sleet on top of 4" of snow is just as impactful as, and possibly more impactful then, 8-12 inches of pure snow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids are going to be very unhappy if this is a bust. I kind of hope for a big storm but that is only because I can work from home now and it doesn't eat into my PTO. I know plenty of people who are praying it is a bust.

The timing is terrible for families who had already shuffled their schedules to accommodate the late week closure. The timing is great, however, for families who planned to pull their kids from school next week anyway to travel due to the partial school week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids are going to be very unhappy if this is a bust. I kind of hope for a big storm but that is only because I can work from home now and it doesn't eat into my PTO. I know plenty of people who are praying it is a bust.

There’s absolutely no way this is a bust. Get ready!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any FCPS alumni on here? Blizzard of 1996 ring a bell? Schools shut down for a solid 2 weeks (and the 3rd was delayed openings) for heavy snow followed by frozen rain on top.

I was a senior in FCPS in 96 and it was amazing; seniors didn't have to make up the time but everyone else got like a week tacked on to the end of their school year.

Yep!
Class of '96 here too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PWCS Teacher- If we are closed all week we might go online.. We are testing Zoom links

Why are you always on the fcps forum??? And posting stuff that's not relevant to fcps?

Im guessing you didn't know fcps is already off Thur abd Fri so nobody is going online for missing a "week" of school.

See, your input is irrelevant. Bug another school forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PWCS Teacher- If we are closed all week we might go online.. We are testing Zoom links

Why are you always on the fcps forum??? And posting stuff that's not relevant to fcps?

Im guessing you didn't know fcps is already off Thur abd Fri so nobody is going online for missing a "week" of school.

See, your input is irrelevant. Bug another school forum.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The kids are going to be very unhappy if this is a bust. I kind of hope for a big storm but that is only because I can work from home now and it doesn't eat into my PTO. I know plenty of people who are praying it is a bust.

The timing is terrible for families who had already shuffled their schedules to accommodate the late week closure. The timing is great, however, for families who planned to pull their kids from school next week anyway to travel due to the partial school week.

Unless you were trying to fly Sunday.

If not for work, I'd head south with the kids Sat AM. We are definitely out Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday probably too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Models have shifted to this being a sat evening affair. Predictions are kids will be in school Tuesday/Wed.

There is zero chance that schools will open on Tuesday. Lows are going to be in the single digits and everything will be a glacier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The kids are going to be very unhappy if this is a bust. I kind of hope for a big storm but that is only because I can work from home now and it doesn't eat into my PTO. I know plenty of people who are praying it is a bust.

Hard to see a true bust. The setup (primarily overrunning precipitation that isn't dependent on a big storm forming) is generally easier to capture on the computer models. The big open question is the snow/sleet breakdown but that breakdown also is likely irrelevant to storm impacts -- 2" of sleet on top of 4" of snow is just as impactful as, and possibly more impactful then, 8-12 inches of pure snow.

I'm already resigned to no school next week, it is what it is. But I'll be super bummed for my kids if its not even good snow to play in.....hoping for fluffy snow with no sleet!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The kids are going to be very unhappy if this is a bust. I kind of hope for a big storm but that is only because I can work from home now and it doesn't eat into my PTO. I know plenty of people who are praying it is a bust.

Hard to see a true bust. The setup (primarily overrunning precipitation that isn't dependent on a big storm forming) is generally easier to capture on the computer models. The big open question is the snow/sleet breakdown but that breakdown also is likely irrelevant to storm impacts -- 2" of sleet on top of 4" of snow is just as impactful as, and possibly more impactful then, 8-12 inches of pure snow.

I'm already resigned to no school next week, it is what it is. But I'll be super bummed for my kids if its not even good snow to play in.....hoping for fluffy snow with no sleet!

Exactly this ... it can be a "boom" scenario in terms of impact on school and travel, and still be a bust for sledding and snowball fights. Worst of all worlds. I've been rooting for a deep snow, was thrilled when the suggestion of 18" came up, but I am not looking forward to freezing rain and ice.