Snow lovers, your time is coming this winter, if the predictions of Doug Kammerer, NBC4’s chief meteorologist, pan out.
The prediction is for “nearly double our average snowfall” with a strong El Niño in place. El Niño is the warming of the waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean to above average temperatures, according to the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, which updated its forecast on Monday.
“I expect to see a couple of big storms,” Kammerer said as he gave his winter forecast outlook Monday night.
Those big storms could come later in January or February as part of nor’easters. He’s predicting two to three nor’easters, with two having the potential for snow.
The first of the snowfalls could occur in December, Kammerer said. On TV, he predicted the first inch of snow would occur December 17. On Facebook, Kammerer would go on to say that this year would be the best chance for a white Christmas that we have had in several years.
Kammerer’s Predictions:
- Areas south of DC: 15 to 22 inches
- DC and inner suburbs: 22 to 30 inches
- Dulles area: 30 to 40 inches
- Winchester: 38 to 52 inches
- Mountain areas: 85 to 120 inches
Kammerer called El Niño a “major driver for weather patterns around the world.”
The wet weather will happen when warm moist air from the South meets cold storms coming from Canada.
“The pattern fits for big East Coast storms. I think that’s what we are going to get here,” Kammerer said on a 30-minute Facebook Live chat he held right after announcing his predictions.
“Many of the storms are going to be on the warmer side of things. Most of them are going to be rain.”
Last year, the DC area saw 0.4 inches of snow. Typically, the area gets an average of 13.7 inches of snow.
Kammerer said the region won’t see as much snow as 2016 when a blizzard came through. But while taking questions on Facebook, Kammerer predicted Loudoun County could see five to seven snow days.
He said Fairfax County should expect about 30 inches of snow.
“It’s going to be a big winter for Winchester,” he said.
“Frostburg is going to get crushed this year,” said Kammerer about the Western Maryland town. Frostburg is 24 miles from Wisp Ski Resort. Kammerer said he expects it will be a lot of snow for skiiers.
And for the areas currently struggling with drought conditions, the wet winter weather, whether rain or snow, will help improve the water tables, he said.
When asked about Bethany Beach, he said, “I even think the beaches have a chance to see some snow.”
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine’s News newsletter.
