Latest models continue to suggest major snowfall
WASHINGTON - New model data from overnight into Wednesday morning continues to reinforce the idea of a potentially historic snowfall for the D.C. metro region. More confirmation that the storm is coming -- on Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service issued a Blizzard Watch for much of the D.C. region beginning Friday afternoon through Saturday night.
The FOX 5 Weather Team released its first prediction of potential snow totals for the D.C. region. At least a foot of snow is being estimated for the nation's capital while one to two feet of snow could fall in areas just west and south of D.C.
FOX 5's Gary McGrady said these predictions will continue to change as we get closer to storm. "I haven't seen this type of model agreement on a big snowstorm since 2009 - 2010," he said.
According to a Wednesday afternoon run of the European model, the snow will begin Friday evening and continue all day Saturday, winding down by dawn Sunday. The model suggests 18 to 21 inches in the District and higher totals south and west of the city.
The energy that will eventually become the East Coast storm is pushing from the Northwest down through Texas and into the deep south. As we move further into the week, more data about the storm will be fed into the various forecast models and tighter predictions will be made.
The latest models have not changed much from last night, McGrady said. A general 'foot plus' area is still being called for along the I-95 corridor between Fredericksburg and Baltimore. A '1 to 2 foot' area could still hit south and west of I-95.
Stay with the FOX 5 Weather Team for updates on the path, timing and snowfall accumulations as the storm moves closer to the D.C. region.
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