Richmond, VA – A weak La Niña is shaping what could be a milder but unpredictable Winter 2026 across Virginia and Maryland, bringing wide temperature swings and sporadic precipitation.
According to the National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington, La Niña years often keep the subtropical jet north, resulting in drier early months followed by brief, energetic cold snaps. The pattern typically limits snow totals across the I-95 corridor while allowing for quick-hitting ice or rain events when moisture aligns.
Forecasters anticipate extended mild spells through December before colder air briefly filters in around mid-January. The region’s snowfall outlook remains below average, especially near coastal and southern Virginia zones. Still, strong winds and occasional coastal lows could cause localized flooding along the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic shorelines.
State transportation officials from VDOT and MDOT are preparing crews for variable conditions, noting that even light freezing rain can create dangerous black ice. Emergency management agencies urge residents to stock essentials, test space heaters, and secure outdoor items before frontal systems arrive. Overall, Winter 2026 is expected to lean warmer and drier than normal, yet the La Niña pattern ensures the Mid-Atlantic remains vulnerable to abrupt cold outbreaks and quick-moving storms.
