A coating to several inches of snow blanketed the D.C. area Sunday morning, ahead a blast of Arctic air anticipated to be the coldest of the season so far.
Falling mostly before dawn, the snow caused minimal disruption, although some morning activities were delayed or canceled. Capital Weather Gang readers reported that side roads and sidewalks were slushy and slick but that major thoroughfares were clear.
Officially, 0.3 inches fell at Reagan National Airport, D.C.’s official weather observing site. It brought December’s total to 1.4 inches, following the 1.1 inches that fell on Dec. 5. Another 0.3 inches are needed for the airport to match its average December snowfall, something it hasn’t reached or surpassed since 1.9 inches fell in 2017.
This year marks the snowiest start to the season since 2018 when 1.4 inches had also fallen as of this date. It’s the first time D.C. has had two accumulating snow events this early since 2013 (when there was also two through this date).
Snow totals quickly climbed to the north and northeast of D.C., where 2 to 5 inches were common. The dynamic weather system that spurred the snowfall even set off thunder that rumbled from Silver Spring to Baltimore between 4 and 5 a.m.
In the wake of the snow, temperatures are predicted to fall through the 20s Sunday, with wind chills dipping into the single digits by sunset. Remaining snow and slush will freeze solid Sunday night.
Select snow totals
Snowfall amounts generally increased from south to north across the D.C. and Baltimore regions.
Generally a dusting or less fell south of Fairfax County and west of Charles County. Inside the Beltway a coating to a little more than an inch was common. Amounts climbed steeply in northern Montgomery, western Howard, Carroll and northern Frederick counties, where amounts of 3 to 5 inches were common. To the east and northeast of the Beltway, amounts of 1 to 3 inches were common.
Here are some select totals:
- Damascus, Maryland: 4.8 inches
- Mount Airy, Maryland: 4 inches
- Edgewater, Maryland: 3 inches
- Crofton, Maryland: 3 inches
- Davidsonville, Maryland: 3 inches
- Ellicott City, Maryland: 3 inches
- Annapolis, Maryland: 2 inches
- Sandy Spring, Maryland: 1 inches
- Clarksburg, Maryland: 2.5 inches
- Frederick, Maryland: 2 inches
- Clinton, Maryland: 2 inches
- Brookeville, Maryland: 1.7 inches
- Gaithersburg, Maryland: 1.5 inches
- Leonardtown, Maryland: 1.2 inches
- Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport: 1 inch
- American University Park, D.C.: 1 inch
- Silver Spring, Maryland: 1 inch
- College Park, Maryland: 1 inch
- Upper Marlboro, Maryland: 1 inch
- Oakton, Virginia: 1 inch
- Vienna, Virginia: 1 inch
- North Arlington: 1 inch
- Reston, Virginia: 0.7 inches
- Potomac, Maryland: 0.7 inches
- Washington Dulles International Airport: 0.5 inches
- South Arlington, Virginia: 0.5 inches
- Alexandria, Virginia: 0.5 inches
How was the forecast?
The Capital Weather Gang’s forecast was a mixed bag.
Snowfall was a little less than predicted in parts of the Beltway area and just to the south and west. In this zone, we predicted 1 to 2 inches, and generally a coating to a little over 1 inch fell. Amounts fell short because the snow was a little lighter than indicated by many of the models on its southern flank, and so it wasn’t able to cool the air effectively. Rain and sleet, which initially mixed with snow, also lowered amounts. We repeatedly mentioned this scenario as a possibility but — as the computer model consensus suggested at least 1 to 2 inches — it was hard to bet against. Our predicted amounts tilted toward the lower end of model projections and were generally lower than other forecasting outlets.
To the north and east of the Beltway, our forecast was closer to on target. However, there were some pockets that received more snow than we forecast in pockets of Frederick and northern Montgomery counties, where totals reached 3 to 5 inches.
What’s next?
Bitter cold is expected for the next 48 hours so expect little melting. But temperatures should eclipse freezing Tuesday afternoon and then a big warming trend will commence. High temperatures should reach the 40s and 50s most days between Thursday and Christmas Day; a few days may be even warmer.
The chance of snow for the rest of December is low but it can’t totally be ruled out, especially in the month’s last week.
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