January 6 Update - Slightly Lower Expectations in the lowlands and/or east of Route 15
While I would never cancel an El Nino winter for the mid-Atlantic, as of Jan 6, we've missed a big opportunity in the lowlands to get towards my expectations of an above-climo winter. West of route 15, however, is still very much on track and can meet or even exceed my snowfall forecast. But east of 15 in the low lands and coastal plan, we're facing an uphill battle to even reach climo.
Of course we can still reach it in one big storm. The chances of 1 big KU is still higher as it's ever been. The STJ is on steroids and is as relentless as I have ever seen it. But we've lacked cold air and while we might get some more of that in the coming weeks, our window of opportunity is shrinking and fast. Especially with a projected late-Jan thaw, before a February reload with the SSWE.
We NEED February to go on an absolute tear to get above climo, and if it doesn't happen, we will fall short. Maybe not in the mountains, which will still do fine, but definitely for the low lands east of 15.
Sorry if my thoughts seem disorganized, I'm writing this while watching my 2 year old daughter run circles around me. She's going stir crazy. We need snow... BAD.
While I'm going to officially grade myself on my original forecast, I created a new map to reflect my expectations going forward. No change west of 15, but east of 15 I'm cutting amounts by 25-30% (with an extra 20% siting penalty on DCA).
Whether we reach climo at the main airport sites is now 50/50.