Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
314 PM EST Tue Jan 20 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Confidence is continuing to increase for a significant winter
storm for the region Saturday into Sunday. Additionally, snow
accumulations increase for upslope snow showers in the
Alleghenies Wednesday night.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) Significant winter storm expected across the Mid-
Atlantic states late Saturday through Sunday bringing
widespread snow. Arctic high pressure will build into the area
Friday afternoon into Saturday morning providing the source
for very cold temperatures this weekend into early next week.
- 2) Accumulating snow is likely along the Alleghenies Wednesday
night through Thursday morning.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Significant winter storm expected across the Mid-Atlantic
states late Saturday through Sunday bringing widespread snow. Arctic
high pressure will build into the area Friday afternoon into
Saturday morning providing the source for very cold temperatures
this weekend into early next week.
Broad upper troughing will remain established across the Great Lks
into the northern Mid-Atlantic through at least early next week.
Southern stream energy is expected to interact with very cold air to
the north to produce moderate to heavy snow across the area this
weekend. Looking at most recent model data, the 12Z GFS and 12Z NAM
remain the furthest south and weakest solutions as it leaves more
energy cut off while the 12Z EC and Canadian models show more energy
getting absorbed into the northern stream. The 12Z EPS and AIFS are
more consistent with their deterministic runs while the GFES shows a
very different solution to its deterministic run. Will continue to
highlight a significant winter storm affecting the area this weekend
in our Hazardous Weather Outlook.