Washington, D.C. – A renewed surge of Arctic air is expected to overspread the Mid-Atlantic during the first full week of February, bringing a prolonged stretch of sharply colder-than-normal temperatures and shifting winter concerns away from snowstorms and toward cold-related impacts.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, temperatures across the Mid-Atlantic are favored to run well below normal from February 6 through February 12 as strong Arctic high pressure settles over the eastern U.S. Precipitation probabilities during that same period lean below average, signaling fewer opportunities for widespread snow despite the colder air mass.
In Pennsylvania, the coldest conditions are expected across northern and western counties, where overnight lows could fall below zero, with teens for highs during the coldest stretch. New Jersey will see frigid mornings statewide, with the sharpest cold inland and slightly moderated conditions along the coast. Across Maryland and Delaware, repeated freezing mornings and gusty winds will drive wind chills into the single digits, especially along the I-95 corridor and the Eastern Shore.
In Virginia, the cold will be most pronounced west of the Blue Ridge and across northern counties, while the Richmond and Hampton Roads areas remain well below seasonal norms. Despite the Arctic air, the prevailing pattern favors dry conditions across the Mid-Atlantic, keeping snow chances below normal. Fast-moving clippers or offshore systems could still bring brief snow or light accumulations, but major storms are not favored.
Residents should prepare for prolonged cold by protecting pipes, checking heating systems, and limiting extended outdoor exposure. Confidence is increasing in the cold pattern through mid-February, with additional advisories possible if conditions intensify or storm tracks shift.
