Washington, DC – A major winter storm is set to grip the Mid-Atlantic beginning late Saturday night, with heavy snow, dangerous ice, and bitter cold expected to create nearly impossible travel conditions across the District, Maryland, Virginia, and eastern West Virginia through early Monday.
According to the National Weather Service in Baltimore and Washington, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect from late Saturday night through early Monday morning as precipitation spreads over Arctic air already in place. Snow is expected to overspread the region overnight, becoming heavy at times with snowfall rates reaching one to two inches per hour. Areas north and west of Washington and Baltimore could see 7 to 14 inches of snow, while western Maryland, northern Virginia, and the eastern West Virginia panhandle may exceed a foot.
Ice will become a growing concern on Sunday, especially south of Highway 50 and near and east of Interstate 95. Ice accumulations of one to two tenths of an inch are likely, with higher amounts possible across central Virginia and along the Blue Ridge. Power outages and tree damage are increasingly likely as ice builds and winds gust higher in mountain areas.
Roads including I-95, I-270, Route 50, and the Beltway could become impassable, and officials urge residents to delay all non-essential travel. Very cold air will follow the storm, with dangerous wind chills lingering into the middle of next week. Additional advisories or extensions of warnings remain possible as conditions evolve.
