Capital Weather Gang Archive by Date

Update: Assessing Impacts of AM Ice

Some school delays possible **Winter Weather Advisory 2 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday N & W of DC** Current DC area temperatures, courtesy Weather Bonk. Map by Google. Refresh page to update. Hover over and click temperatures for more info. Click and hold on map to pan. As a super...

By Jason Samenow | January 31, 2008; 7:41 PM ET | Comments (31)

CommuteCast: Increasing Clouds this Evening

Rain arrives by sunrise; some ice possible north and west **Winter Weather Advisory 2 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday N & W of DC** Mostly sunny skies persisted through much of the day, allowing temperatures to warm into the low 40s across the region. High clouds are now beginning to...

By Ian Livingston | January 31, 2008; 3:30 PM ET | Comments (10)

Possible Ice, Then Buckets of Rain

We are monitoring the potential for some sleet or freezing rain accumulation north and west of the Beltway late Thursday night into early Friday morning, which could produce some hazardous conditions (see Josh's full forecast). But the majority of the precipitation in the region is expected to be plain ol'...

By Camden Walker | January 31, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

Forecast: Dry Today, Wet Tomorrow

Maybe a touch of ice late tonight into early tomorrow You might think of the weather today as representing the calm before the storm. What storm, you ask? We'll see a rather potent area of low pressure over the southeastern U.S. push north and east into our region by the...

By Josh Larson | January 31, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

International House of Snowflakes

Wild Winter Weather Hits China, Israel Some statistics this morning from site visitor Augusta Jim would indicate that the very long-term snow trend is not negative, but as Matt pointed out, La NiÃ±a may be limiting our flaky fortunes through February. If we don't get the snow, who does? Manufacturing...

By Steve Scolnik | January 30, 2008; 7:00 PM ET | Comments (0)

CommuteCast: Gusty Winds Subside

More unsettled weather by late Thursday night Current DC area temperatures, courtesy Weather Bonk. Map by Google. Refresh page to update. Hover over and click temperatures for more info. Click and hold on map to pan. Gusty northwest winds -- clocked as high as 40 to 50 miles per hour...

By Ian Livingston | January 30, 2008; 3:30 PM ET | Comments (10)

La NiÃ±a Could Limit February Snow

As January comes to a close, the DC area has seen only two snow events this winter. Dec. 5 and Jan. 17 combined to drop 4-8 inches of snow across the metro area, which is 20 to 40 percent less than the average for this far into the season. Are...

By Matt Ross | January 30, 2008; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (0)

Forecast: From Rainy to Windy

Morning showers give way to whipping winds You can ditch your umbrella for today after overnight showers end this morning. But hold on to your hat, steering wheel or anything else that could be blown about by winds that will become gusty out of the west. The winds and weather...

By Dan Stillman | January 30, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (12)

Area's Drought Continues

Moderate precipitation deficit persists into 2008 Chart by Capital Weather Gang. Click on image to enlarge. While enough to get you wet without rain gear, today's semi-springlike showers have done little to dampen the impact of a prolonged dry spell in the Washington metro area. Rainfall amounts of around a...

By Steve Scolnik | January 29, 2008; 7:00 PM ET | Comments (8)

CommuteCast: Rain Takes a Break

More likely overnight **Wind Advisory From 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday** **Coastal Flood Advisory Until 10 a.m. Wednesday** Showers -- and some freezing rain to the north and west -- moved into the region earlier than expected today, which helped keep temperatures slightly cooler than previously forecast. Highs topped...

By Ian Livingston | January 29, 2008; 3:30 PM ET | Comments (0)

Alert: Unexpected Midday Showers

Precipitation mainly north and west of downtown Latest DC area radar loop, courtesy National Weather Service. Refresh page to update, or click here to expand. Despite some sun shining through in parts of the metro area, radar shows another batch of showers moving into the area as the lunch hour...

By Capital Weather Gang | January 29, 2008; 11:40 AM ET | Comments (0)

Readers' Choice: Topper on Top

Last week, The Capital Weather Gang rated the evening weathercasters, and Doug Hill (WJLA-7) earned the highest score, with Topper Shutt (WUSA-9) last in the standings. But when we asked you, our readers, who your favorites were, the tables turned. More of you mentioned Topper as your favorite evening...

By Jason Samenow | January 29, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

Alert: Rain Arrives Ahead of Schedule

Pockets of freezing rain to the north Latest DC area radar loop, courtesy National Weather Service. Refresh page to update, or click here to expand. A batch of steady rain has developed in the metro area this morning and will continue for the next several hours. In some spots, temperatures...

By Jason Samenow | January 29, 2008; 7:58 AM ET | Comments (4)

Forecast: State of the Weather -- Snowless

Madam Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, distinguished guests, fellow citizens: As we gather today, winter is at war, cold air is in recession and snow lovers face unprecedented depression. An intrusion of mild air from the south is forcing our prevailing storm track to the north and...

By Matt Ross | January 29, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (14)

Our Warm-up in Perspective

For the last two days, Jason's been writing about the end of our current cold spell. I've done some number crunching, with the help of several computer models, and it looks like the high/low temperature over the coming week will be close to 47/34. To put this in perspective, the...

By Josh Larson | January 28, 2008; 7:00 PM ET | Comments (9)

CommuteCast: Clear and Warmer

Rain chances increase tomorrow Current DC area temperatures, courtesy Weather Bonk. Map by Google. Refresh page to update. Hover over and click temperatures for more info. Click and hold on map to pan. Morning clouds and areas of fog have given way to mostly sunny skies throughout the area allowing...

By Ian Livingston | January 28, 2008; 3:15 PM ET | Comments (0)

The Great Knickerbocker Snowstorm of 1922

86 years ago today, the big one hit... Digging out during the record-breaking Knickerbocker snowstorm, January 28, 1922. From NOAA Library. When I was a young kid back in the 1970s there was a neighbor we called "Old Man Bean" who would tell us stories about an amazing snowstorm that...

By Kevin Ambrose | January 28, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (14)

Forecast: Warming Up but Not Warm

Relative to the last week, temperatures in the coming week will certainly feel mild by comparison. But it's not going to be that mild. We'll get lots of 45+ degree days, but surpassing 50 may not happen. Keep the Bermuda shorts in the attic. TODAY Mostly sunny. 45-50. Despite...

By Jason Samenow | January 28, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (11)

Freedman: In Defense of TV Weathercasters

TV weathercasters are a paranoid lot. They have good grounds for living in fear, because they're often a scapegoat in the television age. As the adage goes, they have the only gig around where they can be wrong and suffer few, if any, consequences. Even before their bright, abnormally happy...

By Andrew Freedman | January 27, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (11)

Forecast: Cold Regime Fading

After a brief taste of cold weather in the past week, warmer than normal weather is poised to return. Today will be seasonably chilly, but milder weather kicks in to start the work week. TODAY Becoming mostly sunny. 40-45. Considerable cloud cover in the morning will drift away by afternoon....

By Jason Samenow | January 27, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (12)

Crashing 'Canes and New Chief

The Discovery Channel program "Smash Lab" will air a new episode all about hurricanes. The Smash Lab teams test whether a special type of carbon fiber used to reinforce tunnels can also be used to hurricane-proof homes. The episode will air tonight at 10pm, Sunday 1/27 at 10am, and Monday...

By Jason Samenow | January 26, 2008; 4:00 PM ET | Comments (1)

Free/Low-Cost Classes

Skywarn; climate course; astronomy for non-scientists If you're interested in learning something about meteorology and also performing a public service, the National Weather Service (NWS) has several Skywarn classes scheduled in the metro region. Skywarn is a program through which trained members of the public can become spotters for weather...

By Steve Scolnik | January 26, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (10)

Forecast: Cloudy Saturday, Clearing Sunday

For most weekend plans, the weather should cooperate. With no big storms, getting around will be a breeze whether you're headed to a local ski resort or the mall. Temperatures will be cool, but nothing out of the ordinary for late January. TODAY Dreary but dry. 35-40. Mostly cloudy skies...

By Jason Samenow | January 26, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (11)

Clipper Sunrise

A sunrise view of the Washington Monument Thursday morning as clouds from an approaching clipper, a weather system originating from Canada, move into the area. Note, the setting moon, which was full two days earlier. Clipper systems usually produce fantastic sunrises and light snowfalls, but this clipper was a...

By Kevin Ambrose | January 26, 2008; 4:45 AM ET | Comments (1)

CommuteCast: Mid-Winter Chill Continues

Uneventful weather to start the weekend Current DC area temperatures, courtesy Weather Bonk. Map by Google. Refresh page to update. Hover over and click temperatures for more info. Click and hold on map to pan. The final commute home of the week promises to be an easy one, at least...

By Ian Livingston | January 25, 2008; 3:15 PM ET | Comments (0)

What's Happened to January?

Our coldest month -- an average of more than three degrees colder than February, and almost five degrees colder than December -- has been mostly a nonperformer of late. The DC area, as measured at Reagan National Airport, is currently facing its fourth consecutive January of above-average temperatures, and the...

By Matt Ross | January 25, 2008; 11:15 AM ET | Comments (11)

Forecast: A Cold Front True to its Name

Another nippy weekend Behind the cold front that passed through yesterday evening, wind chills in the teens this morning will make you wish you had two scarves on. Sure, winds will slacken by sunset, but temperatures will not rise out of the 30s. A reprieve later in the weekend? If...

By Camden Walker | January 25, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (15)

NOAA's NWS Near Naming New NHC Noggin?

The Orlando Sentinel reported today: "National Weather Service veteran Bill Read likely to be next hurricane chief." This promises to be the final chapter in one of the more unusual bureaucratic dramas in recent history. If named as the permanent director of the National Hurricane Center near Miami, Read would...

By Steve Scolnik | January 24, 2008; 7:35 PM ET | Comments (4)

CommuteCast: Slight Chance of Snow Showers

Cold and windy overnight After spending the day on the western edge of a forming coastal low, the DC area will begin to clear out as we move through the evening. Precipitation from the coastal low was able to reach the ground as close by as Maryland and Delaware, but...

By Ian Livingston | January 24, 2008; 3:30 PM ET | Comments (12)

Phony Airline Weather Delays?

Tired of spending hours stuck at Dulles and not even getting a voucher for free Potbelly (not that I'm bitter ...) due to so-called weather delays? If you're suspicious weather isn't even the problem, you may be onto something. Elliot.org reports: Do airlines lie about their weather delays? Not only...

By Jamie Jones | January 24, 2008; 11:50 AM ET | Comments (0)

Forecast: Close Call With Coastal Low

Storm teases, but snow likely to stay mostly east Call it a tease. Call it a flirt. Either way, odds are an area of low pressure developing off the coast today will track too far east to give the metro area anything more than flurries or snow showers. And if...

By Josh Larson | January 24, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (27)

551.5: Book Nook

551.5 is the Dewey Decimal System classification for meteorology. In his post last weekend, Ground Truth, Andrew points out that seeing is believing: Because climate change "exists beyond our field of vision it's hard to be completely convinced of its existence, and therefore of the necessity of addressing it." Andrew...

By Steve Scolnik | January 23, 2008; 7:30 PM ET | Comments (10)

CommuteCast: No Weather Troubles Today

Questions for tomorrow remain The DC area spent the day in the calm between "storms" and enjoyed plentiful sunshine as temperatures rose a little more than expected -- even into the upper 40s in the city. As evening sets in, temperatures will fall off their highs back into the 30s...

By Ian Livingston | January 23, 2008; 3:15 PM ET | Comments (18)

Ranking the Local TV Forecasters

Who's the best of the best? You love 'em. You hate 'em. You rant and rave about them. You praise them for good weather, and blame them for bad. They are your local TV weather forecasters. And four of them have have predicted Washington weather for so long they've become...

By Dan Stillman | January 23, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (98)

Another Slim Snow Chance on Thursday

Measurable snow a long shot Next Chance of Accumulating Snow: Thursday Probability: 35% Potential Impact: As with most of the snow threats this winter season, odds favor less snow rather than more....

By Jason Samenow | January 23, 2008; 5:30 AM ET | Comments (11)

Forecast: Weather Pattern Remains Active

But no big storm on the horizon It was around this time last week that Mother Nature flipped the switch on what had been a rather quiet winter. Since then, it seems like we've had a chance of wintry precipitation almost every other day. Yet, the "big one" has remained...

By Dan Stillman | January 23, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

Climate Corner: Myth-tery Science Theater 2008

One of the major myths of the climate change saga comes in for some major debunking at a session Wednesday of the 20th Conference on Climate Variability and Change, which is meeting in conjunction with the 88th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) this week in New Orleans....

By Steve Scolnik | January 22, 2008; 7:50 PM ET | Comments (0)

CommuteCast: Mostly Dry and Continued Chilly

Next shot at snow: Thursday? Earlier showers that were mixed with sleet and snow have now largely moved through the region causing little, if any, travel problems. Cloudiness will continue throughout the area during the evening and a passing shower is still possible. Any precipitation should be short lived, light...

By Ian Livingston | January 22, 2008; 3:00 PM ET | Comments (0)

Alert: Wintry Weather Risk Fading

Latest DC area radar loop, courtesy National Weather Service. Refresh page to update, or click here to expand. The National Weather Service has cancelled the Winter Weather Advisory for the region as temperatures have now risen above freezing throughout. Radar currently shows a broken line of activity to the...

By Ian Livingston | January 22, 2008; 11:45 AM ET | Comments (0)

Forecast: Light Wintry Mix Today

Cold pattern tries to hang tough ***A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the entire metro area*** Before folks get too excited about snow in the forecast, understand this is not a major storm. Patchy light snow will probably develop over the area late this morning ahead of an...

By Matt Ross | January 22, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

Alert: Winter Weather Advisory for Tuesday

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the entire Metro Area for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday: A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION TUESDAY AFTERNOON. IN ADVANCE OF THE FRONT...LIGHT SNOW AND SLEET WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA TUESDAY MID-MORNING. SNOW WILL MIX FREEZING...

By Matt Ross | January 21, 2008; 3:21 PM ET | Comments (0)

For the Love of Snow

Sledding Sunday in Fairfax County. As an adult I still love snow. I know I'm in good company judging from the comments on this blog and other weather Web sites. I'm rather happy that I've held onto my love for snow although I sometimes question why, particularly when I'm stuck...

By Kevin Ambrose | January 21, 2008; 1:45 PM ET | Comments (0)

Forecast: Wind Wanes, Cold Continues

Light mix possible tomorrow Yesterday's bitter winds will take a breather, but cold conditions will hang on for at least another day. Temperatures will moderate somewhat tomorrow -- enough so that rain is more likely than snow as a cold front triggers another round of precipitation. Cold and mostly dry...

By Jason Samenow | January 21, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

Just How Cold? Take a Guess...

Overnight, temperatures will drop to their lowest levels of the season. How low will they go? Here are my predictions for our three official observing sites: Reagan National Airport (DCA): 14 Dulles International Airport (IAD): 8 Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI): 9 What do you think? And, in the morning,...

By Jason Samenow | January 20, 2008; 10:22 PM ET | Comments (0)

Freedman: Ground Truth

"Seeing is believing" is a saying that can mean a great deal in life. It is typically used in conversation to refer to something strange that happened that no one would have believed could happen until it actually happened, like a window-washer falling 47 stories and surviving or a penguin...

By Andrew Freedman | January 20, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (16)

Forecast: Wind & Cold To Whip Washington

The much anticipated (and dreaded?) cold airmass has arrived. While the cold will be pretty brutal today, it will gradually lose some of its punch in the coming days. TODAY Mostly sunny, windy and cold. 25-30. Don't let the sunshine fool you. Penetrating cold and a biting wind will...

By Jason Samenow | January 20, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

Alert: Snow Showers or Flurries Likely

Dusting to an inch possible by midnight Latest Mid-Atlantic radar loop, courtesy National Weather Service. Refresh page to update, or click here to expand. The combination of moisture pluming up from the south and an approaching Arctic cold front is likely to produce some snow in the metro area through...

By Jason Samenow | January 19, 2008; 3:04 PM ET | Comments (0)

Forecast: Cold and Colder

Flurries possible today; frigid tomorrow It's about to get cold, real cold. Today's possible flurries and modest chill will be overshadowed by an Arctic front ushering in bone-chilling conditions late tonight into tomorrow. Temperatures will start to recover somewhat early next week. TODAY Mostly cloudy, chance of flurries. 35-40. A...

By Jason Samenow | January 19, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

CommuteCast: Much Easier than Yesterday's

Weekend storm looking like a miss With yesterday's travel troubles long gone, this evening will be dry and cool for those headed home or out of town for the long weekend (maybe to somewhere more snowy than here!). Some remaining snow melt on roadways may cause isolated icy spots, but...

By Ian Livingston | January 18, 2008; 3:00 PM ET | Comments (0)

The Cause of Big Flakes

Some pretty big snowflakes were observed in Thursday's snowstorm. Numerous visitors commented on them, and weatherdudeVA asked: What is making these flakes SO BIG? Is it the fact that they have a high water content and they're sticking together, or is it something else? Yes - high water content and...

By Jason Samenow | January 18, 2008; 12:30 PM ET | Comments (14)

Weekend Storm Trending Away

Still bears watching Next Chance of Accumulating Snow: Saturday PM - Sunday AM Probability: 35% Potential Impact: The good news is you may not need that shovel again this weekend. That's not-so-good news for those craving more of the white stuff. During the day Saturday, low pressure pulling out of...

By Dan Stillman | January 18, 2008; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (23)

Forecast: Snow Melts then Maybe More

Numbingly nippy by Sunday We'll have a turbulent ride this weekend. Warmth will melt the slush today, then some snow is possible from a storm on Saturday which will transition us into... frigid cold for the remainder of our holiday weekend. TODAY Sunny by midday, breezy, 48. After a mostly...

By Camden Walker | January 18, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (20)

Photography: Fun in the Snow

Thursday's snow was perfect for sledding and snowmen, especially for Washington area kids who have not seen much snow this winter. I photographed some neighborhood scenes in western Fairfax County, where there was almost 4" of snow. The snow turned to rain and sleet about 4pm, but the kids...

By Kevin Ambrose | January 18, 2008; 4:45 AM ET | Comments (0)

Forecast: Precipitation Peters Out

Slick spots could impact morning commute, schools Latest MidAtlantic radar loop, courtesy National Weather Service. Refresh page to update, or click here to expand. Precipitation -- now primarily in the form of sleet and rain -- is still on track to end from southwest to northeast between 7 p.m. and...

By Dan Stillman | January 17, 2008; 5:45 PM ET | Comments (34)

Alert: Accumulation Coming to an End

A basketball left on a playground in Northern Virginia from our last spell of warm weather is covered by 4 inches of snow. By Capital Weather Gang photographer Kevin Ambrose. Within the metro area, most areas have seen snow mix with or change to sleet during the early afternoon....

By Dan Stillman | January 17, 2008; 2:30 PM ET | Comments (80)

Photography: Downtown DC in Heavy Snow

As the snow poured down just before the lunch hour I grabbed my camera and headed out into the elements to see what the situation was on the ground. Upon exiting the building where I work downtown, I was greeted by moderate to occasionally heavy snow. Here are a few...

By Ian Livingston | January 17, 2008; 2:20 PM ET | Comments (3)

Alert: Snow Continues at Steady Clip

Slightly higher accumulations; sleet and rain to mix in An unofficial measurement of accumulated snow inside the Capital Beltway. Refresh page to update, or click here to enlarge. Moderate to sometimes heavy snow has been falling across much of the DC metro area since late morning, and precipitation should continue...

By Dan Stillman | January 17, 2008; 12:50 PM ET | Comments (68)

Alert: Here Comes the Snow

Latest MidAtlantic radar loop, courtesy National Weather Service. Refresh page to update, or click here to expand. Snow is currently spreading over the region as an area of low pressure destined to bring many their first accumulating snow of 2008 moves up the East Coast. Expect steady light to...

By Ian Livingston | January 17, 2008; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (219)

The Return of Snow

Accumulating snow likely today; Maybe more Saturday Winter weather advisory in effect for the metro area, winter storm warning in Loudoun, Fauquier and Frederick counties. Here we go. After more than a month since our last accumulating snowfall, chances are good some measurable amounts of the white stuff will fall...

By Josh Larson | January 17, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (98)

Forecast: How Much Snow?

Winter Weather Advisory in Effect Snow accumulation potential, January 17. Before you head to bed, here is our first crack at forecasting accumulations. We think 1-3" will generally fall in the metro area, but closer to 1" downtown and mainly on grassy surfaces. In the colder suburbs, north and west...

By Jason Samenow | January 16, 2008; 11:11 PM ET | Comments (17)

Alert: Snow Confidence Increasing

The latest data I'm analyzing has increased my confidence in the likelihood of accumulating snow tomorrow (65%). The storm radar appears impressive (notice the precipitation coverage to the southwest) and snow has been reported as far south as Atlanta. The details given in Steve's earlier post on timing and impact...

By Jason Samenow | January 16, 2008; 7:30 PM ET | Comments (77)

CommuteCast: Winter 2.0, The Sequel

Clear commute; wintry mix likely tomorrow Precisely one year ago today, CapitalWeather.com's PM Update (archive not available) noted that the pattern had shifted exactly halfway through meteorological winter from a mild regime to a more wintry one, and a similar shift is happening this year. With yesterday's return to...

By Steve Scolnik | January 16, 2008; 4:30 PM ET | Comments (16)

Alert: Winter Weather Advisory Tomorrow

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the District and points north and west from 7 a.m. Thursday to midnight Thursday night. According to NWS ... PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AS SNOW THURSDAY MORNING ACCUMULATING AROUND AN INCH AROUND THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR WITH AS...

By Dan Stillman | January 16, 2008; 3:10 PM ET | Comments (14)

Small Storm May Cause Small Problems

Snow eventually changing to rain ... but when? Next Chance of Accumulating Snow: Thursday Probability: 50% Potential Impact: First things first: This does not appear to be a big storm, or that it could turn into a big storm. We're talking minor accumulations at best. But around here, a light...

By Matt Ross | January 16, 2008; 12:10 PM ET | Comments (23)

Forecast: Coastal Storm Could Bring Snow

Minimal accumulations possible; Super cold by Sunday The coastal storm is usually a snow lover's dream come true. As low pressure rides up the Eastern seaboard, cold air streams down from the north -- a perfect recipe for a winter wonderland. Yet, for the second time in a week, a...

By Dan Stillman | January 16, 2008; 9:00 AM ET | Comments (31)

Squall Chasing and a Sun Pillar

I know it's a bad winter for snow when I need to chase a squall to try to get a good snow photo. What made the situation worse is that I could not catch up to the darn squalls, they moved too fast. It kind of reminded me of...

By Kevin Ambrose | January 16, 2008; 9:00 AM ET | Comments (7)

CommuteCast: Breezy, Cold After Snow Show

Mostly sunny tomorrow Some leftover spin in the atmosphere in the wake of the snowstorm departing to the northeast from the Canadian Maritimes brought some vigorous, if brief, snow flurries to the Washington metro area around noon today. (We'll try to have more on the spin factor in a...

By Steve Scolnik | January 15, 2008; 3:46 PM ET | Comments (35)

Alert: Snow Flurries and Squalls Moving Through

Latest D.C metro area radar loop, courtesy AccuWeather. Reload to update, or click here to expand. A line of flurries and briefly intense snow squalls is now progressing into the western suburbs of DC. While short-lived, this line may produce a quick dusting to 1/2" of snow on grassy...

By Ian Livingston | January 15, 2008; 11:28 AM ET | Comments (38)

Slim Snow Chances Stay Slim

Snow on an ultra low fat diet Next Chance of Accumulating Snow: Thursday Probability: 30% Potential Impact: Commentary: I'll begin with some good news for snow lovers: I actually think there's about a 60% chance we see some snow Thursday. The bad news is I don't think it will amount...

By Jason Samenow | January 15, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (18)

Forecast: Cold and Mostly Dry Next Two Days

Snow to rain possible Thursday; Some flurries today After eight consecutive days with above normal temperatures, we are finally settling into a more seasonable pattern for mid-January. After a couple of chilly but benign days, a storm system will approach the DC area from our south/southwest and bring with it...

By Matt Ross | January 15, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (14)

Snow Starvation

The January "Snow Hole" There's never enough frozen precipitation in Washington for the confirmed snow lovers, but they were up against a formidable obstacle for the latest rain event last night into this morning: the January 14 "snow hole". As hard as it is to get the right ingredients together...

By Steve Scolnik | January 14, 2008; 7:00 PM ET | Comments (0)

CommuteCast: Brisk but Dry

A storm system that developed off the coast last night has moved northeastward, bringing snow to New England, where most Washingtonians would probably say it should stay. In its wake, variable clouds have spit out some scattered light snow flurries, some of which were reported by Capital Weather Gang...

By Steve Scolnik | January 14, 2008; 3:40 PM ET | Comments (10)

Twelve Years Ago, After the Storm

Today marks the 12 year anniversary of my very first storm photo shoot of Washington, D.C. At that time, a series of snowstorms, including the Blizzard of 1996, had just dumped over two feet of snow across the D.C. area and I wanted to take some photos to document...

By Kevin Ambrose | January 14, 2008; 1:30 PM ET | Comments (0)

A Slight Shot at Snow Late This Week

Unclear if enough cold air will be in place. Next Chance of Accumulating Snow: Thursday Probability: 30% Potential Impact: Commentary: If you are unhappy with the fact that yesterday's snow passed the Washington, DC area by while dumping quite a bit over New England, don't get too down (yet). Computer...

By Josh Larson | January 14, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (0)

Forecast: Finally that Winter Feeling

It may feel more like winter this week, but the question on most peoples' minds is will we get some snow so it will look like winter? That's a tough call because our cold air supply may be on its way out just in time for the arrival of the...

By Jason Samenow | January 14, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

Freedman: Another Strange Year

Is the weather getting stranger or is it just me? More people asked themselves this question in 2007, as temperatures edged ever upward. This was, after all, the year when battling global warming turned into a worldwide social and political movement, thereby making odd weather suspicious. The weather of 2007...

By Andrew Freedman | January 13, 2008; 9:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

Forecast: Cold PM Rain, Possibly Some Flakes

Drying out Monday Snow has been tough to come by this winter and today will be no exception. A coastal storm will bring rain to the region this afternoon and it probably won't be cold enough for flakes to fly until the storm is pulling away. Don't expect any problems...

By Jason Samenow | January 13, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

Alert: Sunday PM Storm Mainly Rain

The details for tomorrow's storm are finally crystallizing, but snow crystals aren't a big part of the equation, unless you happen to be a mile high in the atmosphere. Down at ground level, temperatures are going to be too warm for snow until the storm is pulling away and starting...

By Jason Samenow | January 12, 2008; 11:15 PM ET | Comments (0)

Test Your Weather History Knowledge

Are you a weather buff, a history buff, or both? The Weather Channel program "When the Weather Changed History" which had its debut last week, will air its second episode this Sunday at 9pm (ET)....

By Jason Samenow | January 12, 2008; 2:00 PM ET | Comments (9)

Alert: On the Edge of Sunday Night Storm

Probability of accumulating snow pretty low Indications are strong that a major storm will impact New Jersey to New England with some significant snows, especially the further north you go Sunday night. But once you get south of Jersey, precipitation amounts will likely decrease from northeast to southwest through the...

By Jason Samenow | January 12, 2008; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (0)

Best Snow Chance Since Early December

But still not great; Uncertainty higher than normal Next Chance of Accumulating Snow: Sunday-Monday Probability: 55% Potential Impact: Commentary: A storm will organize off the coast of the Carolinas Sunday morning and then intensify as it merges with another storm to the northwest off the coast of the Delmarva peninsula...

By Jason Samenow | January 12, 2008; 7:00 AM ET | Comments (19)

Forecast: From Sunny to Stormy

Rain and snow likely Sunday evening The sun demands you do your outdoor deeds today. By tomorrow, clouds lower and thicken, and storminess likely approaches from the south. Rain is likely by the afternoon, possibly changing to snow overnight. TODAY Mostly sunny. 50-55. It will be hard to believe there's...

By Jason Samenow | January 12, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

Alert: Sunday Night Storm Odds Increasing

New information I'm analyzing suggests an increased risk of significant precipitation starting Sunday afternoon and especially Sunday night. The exact location of rain/snow line -- likely to be somewhere between the Chesapeake Bay and mountains -- is so uncertain, that it's too early to confidently say whether the metro area...

By Jason Samenow | January 11, 2008; 10:50 PM ET | Comments (0)

CommuteCast: No Weather Worries

Mostly clear and dry After overnight light rain and showers put about a third of an inch in the bucket, skies have cleared nicely in the metro area this afternoon. Once again, the air behind a cold front passing through the region in mid afternoon is relatively mild, so temperatures...

By Steve Scolnik | January 11, 2008; 3:47 PM ET | Comments (0)

Mediarology: Got $5 Billion?

Apply directly to the forehead! Raid the piggy bank, weather fans. Today's WaPo has a front-page business section article discussing the previously-announced potential sale of The Weather Channel. Landmark Communications, current owner of TWC, was founded as a newspaper company over 100 years ago in the Norfolk area, so the...

By Steve Scolnik | January 11, 2008; 12:46 PM ET | Comments (0)

Come Join the Fun

Wow!!! This is my first time on the blog and I learned more about meteorology and weather reading this than I have in the past 45 years [referring to Matt Ross's "Where's All the Snow?" feature]. This could become addictive. - Lester Burnham on our comment board. Thanks Lester, you've...

By Jason Samenow | January 11, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (10)

Forecast: Briefly Damp & Warm

Trending cooler; Storm may miss us "wide-right" Sunday night After a balmy week with much above normal temperatures and some showery weather -- here we go again: a warmish, showery Friday. Then a cooler weekend is to follow... What is Sunday's winter storm potential for the DC area? TODAY Wet...

By Camden Walker | January 11, 2008; 7:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

The Mystery Cloud

KISS or Contrails? Kevin's cloud photo post this morning inspired some interesting creativity among the site's visitors. I think the most original explanation was submitted by Curtis, who said: Folks, that's the universal signal for a pending KISS concert. It works similarly to the mechanism the Commissioner used to summon...

By Steve Scolnik | January 10, 2008; 7:28 PM ET | Comments (0)

CommuteCast: Sprinkles, Maybe More

Showers and rain through tomorrow morning Sprinkles ahead of a developing low pressure area in the Midwest have dampened the ground this afternoon in the metro area, but amounts have been extremely light so far, especially north of the District. You'll be dodging a 50% chance of showers on your...

By Steve Scolnik | January 10, 2008; 3:43 PM ET | Comments (0)

Alert: Higher Sunday/Monday Storm Threat

Some new computer model guidance suggests that a coastal storm will track close enough to land to produce significant rain and/or snow over the metro area late Sunday into Monday. While details still remain foggy, we'll keep you updated as a clearer picture begins to emerge over the coming hours...

By Ian Livingston | January 10, 2008; 1:40 PM ET | Comments (0)

What Caused this Cloud Formation?

Sunset over Fairfax, January 8. At 5:15pm on Tuesday I noticed an odd cloud formation in the sky. I took a photograph and have posted it above. Can anyone explain this cloud formation and what may have caused its shape? Please comment. Steve will publish some of the best and/or...

By Kevin Ambrose | January 10, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (25)

Forecast: Unsettled Through Next 48 Hours

Noticeably cooler by Sunday A series of cold fronts -- one that moved through yesterday and another passing by today -- will provide us with up-and-down temperatures and periods of showers and rain today into early Friday. Thereafter, drier weather and cooler temperatures are in store for Saturday, while seasonably...

By Josh Larson | January 10, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (28)

Meet a Major Meteorologist

Attention winter weather weenies It never rains, but it pours. The DC region, home to more meteorologists per acre than probably anywhere else in the world, is host to two major meteorological meetings on the same night next week. The DC chapter of the American Meteorological Society is presenting winter...

By Steve Scolnik | January 9, 2008; 7:46 PM ET | Comments (10)

PM Forecast: Not as Hot

Becoming cooler, some rain later As expected, the cold front went through the Washington metro area around 8 or 9 this morning, as a strong southerly breeze became westerly and then northwesterly. Humidity dropped dramatically; dewpoints fell as much as 16° in one hour. Temperatures rose, however, hitting a morning...

By Steve Scolnik | January 9, 2008; 4:00 PM ET | Comments (13)

Winter Starts Slow, Will it Finish Strong?

After yesterday's record-breaking warmth and a rather tame start to winter, one naturally wonders, is winter cold and snow going to be a no-show? Our updated, long-term winter outlook calls for January to cool down after a hot start, a warm February and the potential for a colder than average...

By Matt Ross | January 9, 2008; 12:05 PM ET | Comments (0)

Forecast: Temperatures to Fall, But Not Too Far

Somewhere, winter waits in the wings Some January thaws end with a "back-to-reality" blast of bitterly cold air. But not this one. A cold front coming through today will bring an end to this week's record warmth, but not before temperatures threaten to exceed 60 degrees for the third day...

By Dan Stillman | January 9, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (51)

News & Notes: Geek me out!

Tracking weather while in transit; Science of cold on PBS tonight As if your cell phone didn't provide enough reason to ignore the road while driving, DC-based XM Satellite Radio announced Sunday that they will debut the first-ever real-time in-vehicle weather tracking system at next week's North American International Auto...

By Steve Scolnik | January 8, 2008; 6:15 PM ET | Comments (7)

Records Fall

The new record highs for today... National: 73 (breaks the old record of 69 set in 1998) Dulles: 70 (breaks the old record of 69 set in 1998) BWI: 70 (breaks the old record of 67 set in 1998) Why do the record highs and lows for National and BWI...

By Steve Scolnik | January 8, 2008; 5:29 PM ET | Comments (6)

PM Forecast: Cooldown Following Record Heat

Reports of winter's demise are extremely premature Welcome back, friends of PM Update, and welcome to our new visitors, as well! It's a fine April, er, early January day here in the Washington metro area. Yes, today's noon sun angle of about 29° was close to what it would be...

By Steve Scolnik | January 8, 2008; 4:00 PM ET | Comments (34)

Sunspot Sparks Space Weather

Bored with the Washington area's warm winter weather? At least things are picking up in space. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that a new sunspot could spell magnetic storms and solar winds capable of disrupting everything from power grids to ATMs....

By Dan Stillman | January 8, 2008; 1:45 PM ET | Comments (3)

Forecast: Record Warmth Within Reach

Cooler air coming; Could white stuff be far behind? Welcome to the Capital Weather Gang blog! Read more below to find out more about us and this blog, but let's get right to the forecast .... Did you like the weather yesterday? Mother Nature's bottled it up and will spoon...

By Jason Samenow | January 8, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (0)

Where's All the Snow?

Outside of the December 5 "clipper storm" that brought 3-5" to most of the DC metro area, the metro region has seen little to no snow. And it's been warm. December finished over two degrees above normal at Reagan National Airport (DCA) for DC's eighth consecutive month with at or...

By Matt Ross | January 8, 2008; 4:45 AM ET | Comments (20)

Photography: Snowless Sunrise

Sunrise at the reflecting pool, January 5. The alarm sounded at 5:30am Saturday morning and I slowly got out of bed to check the infrared satellite and water vapor loops on my computer. I find that satellite imagery is the best tool to forecast cloud cover, which ultimately determines a...

By Kevin Ambrose | January 8, 2008; 4:30 AM ET | Comments (0)

Links: General

LOCAL WEATHER LINKS Washington/Baltimore National Weather Service Forecast Office (Sterling, Va.) DC Monthly Climate Summaries from National Weather Service DC Chapter of the American Meteorological Society Washington D.C. Weather Photography Area Climate Information from WUSA-9 Mid Atlantic Weather Station DC Weather History (from the National Weather Service) AnnandaleWeather.com MidAtlanticWeather.com MarylandWeather.org...

By Jason Samenow | January 8, 2008; 4:15 AM ET | Comments (0)

Links: Models & Technical Discussion

This page contains links to computer simulations of the atmosphere used by meteorologists to forecast the weather. It also includes technical discussions. Understanding the content of these links would be aided through self-study or by taking some classes in meteorology. MODELS For an overview on interpreting computer models, see: WeatherPrediction.net...