DCA average high for Christmas is 47, Accuweather's current forecast gives a high of 51 for that day so +4.
A torch would be more like today where the high is 62 compared to the average of 50, which is +12.
Weenies will cling onto anything that will validate their snow fantasies until it either verifies or the rug is pulled. Even if it's a <1% long shot some of them will take it as gospel until 6 hours later and the new run has it completely vanish.
This current pattern threw a bone to the snow weenies, you have to remember that a month ago a lot of people here announced last rites in regards to winter.
Would precip be accurate that far out? There were quite a few times in the warmer months where there were several inches of rain on those maps over a month in advance only for it to go poof as we got closer.
Now that we're getting snow chances it's time to bring this back.
I expect many rug pulls this season, despite the current pattern we can't win them all.