Monday will see low dropping into the 20s. With the wind chill, it will feel like the teens across the Triangle, the coldest morning since January 23.
With frigidly cold temperatures expected in the coming days, Duke Energy is reminding customers of a few things that they can do to help control energy use and still stay warm.
Ways to stay warm, while not driving your energy bill up
A winter storm is moving through Minnesota ahead of Thanksgiving, leaving behind what will likely be the Twin Cities’ first measurable snowfall of the season by Wednesday morning. Areas to the north could get far more.
The first wave of a two-part storm arrived Monday evening, bringing rain. The latter half of a second wave Tuesday will likely bring rain in the south and snow up north. A NEXT Weather Alert is in effect and will stretch until Wednesday.
The storm system has shifted south, bringing higher potential snowfall totals to the Twin Cities area.
By Wednesday morning, there could be up to 5 inches of snow on the ground in the Twin Cities area. There could be more accumulation to the north and west, with areas like Plymouth, Andover and Forest Lake seeing up to 8 inches of snow.
Latest snowfall totals as of 7 a.m. Tuesday. These numbers could shift as the forecast progresses.
WCCO
But the highest snow totals will likely be in central and northern Minnesota.
Weather watchers in western and north-central Minnesota were reporting between 3 and 7 inches of accumulation on Tuesday night.
Areas like St. Cloud and Brainerd could see 5 to 8 inches of snow, while Hinckley could see 8 and 12 inches of snow, according to NEXT Weather Meteorologist Joseph Dames.
Latest snowfall totals as of 7 a.m. Tuesday. These numbers could shift as the forecast progresses.
WCCO
Areas to the south of the Twin Cities — such as Mankato and Rochester — will see less, likely 1 to 3 inches of snow.
That snow will likely impact Thanksgiving travel in the morning. With strong wind gusts — between 30 mph and 40 mph — visibility on the roads will likely be low.
“If you’re going to be out on the roads, take it easy. Give yourself some extra time. Stay safe,” said Del Rosso.
The southwest corner of Minnesota likely won’t see much accumulation, though models vary and could change with time.
A spate of winter weather is threatening travel around the Thanksgiving holiday, with rain, snow and powerful winds forecast to roll through the middle of the country this week.
There are two systems bringing soggy and wintry conditions to different parts of the United States on Tuesday, according CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan. One will carry wet weather over the Ohio Valley before reaching the Northeast later in the day, while the second is expected to produce strong winds and heavy snowfall across a northern band of the Midwest, from the Plains through the Great Lakes, through Wednesday.
Nikki Nolan/CBS News
Winter storm warnings were in effect for parts of North Dakota, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In Grand Forks, North Dakota, a winter storm warning was set to remain in place through Tuesday night, and forecasters said the region could expect to see up to 6 inches of snow accumulate, along with winds as high as 35 mph.
In the Twin Cities, the National Weather Service office warned early Tuesday that snowfall rates in the region were already exceeding 1 inch per hour, and gusty winds of up to 45 mph could cause blizzards.
Twin Cities residents were bracing for the latter portion of a two-part storm that initially arrived Monday evening with rainfall and was expected to bring rain and snowfall through Wednesday, CBS Minnesota reported. The area could see up to 5 inches of snow by Wednesday morning, with some places forecast to receive as much as 8 inches.
Nikki Nolan/CBS News
Chicago was experiencing mild weather Tuesday morning and preparing for a bout of light rain and fog through Wednesday, when a cold front is expected to move through the area, CBS Chicago reported. Temperatures will likely drop below freezing on Thanksgiving and remain low into Friday.
Parts of upstate New York were experiencing powerful winds on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Meanwhile, downstate areas, including New York City, were preparing for rainfall later in the day, potentially hampering travel in the lead-up to Thanksgiving. Cold temperatures and blustery winds were expected to settle in on Thursday, CBS New York reported.
Nikki Nolan/CBS News
The impacts of this week’s winter weather will be most severe in areas closest to the Canadian border, where some places could receive 20 or 30 inches of snow, Nolan said, adding that high winds across the upper Midwest could potentially reach 40 mph, with even stronger gusts. That could possible interrupt travel along major interstates, including I-29, I-90 and I-94, as well as major airports in Chicago, Duluth, Fargo, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Pierre, South Dakota.
Along with New York City, a handful of metropolitan areas were expecting rain, including Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Cincinnati, Nashville, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. Nolan said the rain could cause delays for drivers traveling along I-20, I-40, I-65, I-75 and I-95, in addition to air travelers at airports in the cities expecting rain, as well as Indianapolis and Memphis.
A number of airports that could be affected are expecting huge crowds around the upcoming holiday. In Chicago, for example, airports are anticipating about 3.6 million passengers this week, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.
March 5, 2015: Sleet and snow overnight left all of North Texas under a slippery white blanket. Downtown Fort Worth rooftops were glistening under a layer of snow and ice.
According to the Weather Channel, a chance of freezing rain is expected in the Fort Worth area on the night of Monday, Dec. 1, and the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 2. Temperatures are expected to dip below freezing at around 26 degrees the night of Dec. 1 before reaching a high of around 42 on Dec. 2., the Weather Channel 10-day forecast says.
On the other hand, a National Weather Service meteorologist said the NWS Fort Worth office’s forecast currently runs through Dec. 1 and it shows no signs of freezing rain or any winter weather in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
A clearer picture of whether rain or freezing rain is possible on Dec. 1 and 2 should be available on Wednesday of this week, the NWS meteorologist said.
In the meantime, thunderstorms and rain showers will return to the North Texas forecast this weekend, the weather service said. There’s a 40% chance of rain overnight Friday into Saturday, Nov. 29, according to the NWS. Rain will continue most of Saturday and into Sunday, Nov. 30.
After flooding on Monday, the weekend storms will bring lighter rain than past storm systems, and severe weather is unlikely, according to the NWS.
Shambhavi covers crime, law enforcement and other breaking news in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. She graduated from the University of North Texas and previously covered a variety of general assignment topics in West Texas. She grew up in Nepal.
“I think the shutdown at this point is history for air travel. The airlines understand this time of year so well. They know exactly what they need to do,” said Sheldon H. Jacobson, an airport and airlines operations expert. “The real challenge is making sure travelers can help themselves.”
Here’s a guide to navigating the busiest travel week of the year:
Travel forecasts point to packed airports and roads.
A week after lifting the unprecedented flight restrictions it placed on commercial airlines during the shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration is preparing for its busiest Thanksgiving week in 15 years, with more than 360,000 flights scheduled between Monday and next Tuesday. That’s more than 17.8 million people who will be screened by the Transportation Security Administration.
AAA projects 1.3 million more travelers will be on the roads than last year, pushing the total number of people traveling by car to at least 73 million.
You can’t control the weather, but you can control how prepared you are if a winter storm hits. If your flight is canceled or delayed, will you drive instead or postpone or cancel your trip? Knowing your options ahead of time can reduce stress if a storm leaves you stranded.
James Belanger, vice president of meteorology at the Weather Company, recommends checking the forecast frequently while planning your trip.
The Weather Channel offers a Thanksgiving weekly forecast highlighting major airports and highways that could be affected by bad weather — including snow, ice and rain — along with a free online tool that shows how the weather might impact your travel route.
On Tuesday, the FAA’s busiest day with more than 52,000 flights scheduled, forecasters say rain could cause problems in the Pacific Northwest and for much of the eastern U.S. Airports in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, D.C., could be impacted, according to the Weather Channel.
Jacobson, whose research contributed to the design of TSA PreCheck, recommends starting your packing by unpacking.
Check every pocket in case TSA-restricted items, like full-sized bottles, were left behind from a previous trip. This simple scan can help you get through security faster, especially when airports are crowded.
If you’re traveling with gifts, Jacobson suggests wrapping them at your destination because TSA agents may need to open them.
When deciding which clothes and shoes to pack, Belanger says to check the “feels like” temperature for a better sense of the weather, especially if you’re not used to the cold.
And don’t forget a REAL ID is required to fly within the U.S., or you’ll need to bring another accepted form of ID, like a passport or military ID.
People with iPhones can now also add their U.S. passport details to Apple Wallet, which can be scanned at participating airports if travelers don’t have a REAL ID. More than a dozen states already accept some form of a mobile ID at airport checkpoints, and travelers can go to the TSA website for more details.
Whether driving is your top choice or backup plan, AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz suggests checking your tires, car battery and fluids, then hitting the road with a full tank of gas as early as possible to avoid traffic. Last year, AAA said, it responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls during the Thanksgiving travel period to help drivers stranded by dead batteries, flat tires and empty tanks.
According to an analysis by Google Maps:
— Traffic on Wednesday is expected to be 14% heavier than usual between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with peak traffic from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
— On Thanksgiving Day, the roads will be busiest between noon and 3 p.m.
— When it’s time to head home, avoid driving from 12 to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, when traffic is heaviest.
“…is an informed passenger,” Jacobson likes to say.
Download your airline’s app to track your flight status, and check it regularly as your travel date approaches. That way, if your flight is canceled the day before, you can quickly look for alternatives.
Driving or flying, leave earlier than you think you need to. Knowing you won’t have to rush to your destination can help calm any nerves, whether it’s lingering anxiety from the shutdown or because you’re traveling with young kids or someone who needs extra help getting around.
“These are some very simple things to think about, but they’re important things to think about,” Jacobson said.
Woolly bear caterpillars: Can they predict winter weather?
CRAWLING ON YOUR FRONT OR BACK PORCH. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE WOOLY BEAR CATERPILLAR. DEFINITELY HAVE SEEN THEM. RUMOR HAS IT THAT THESE CATERPILLARS MAY HAVE SOMETHING UP THEIR SLEEVES IN TERMS OF FORECASTING WINTER WEATHER. FOR MORE ON THAT, LET’S TURN OVER NOW TO STORM TEAM METEOROLOGIST RYAN ARGENT, WHO HAS THE TRUTH ABOUT THESE CATERPILLARS? RYAN, IS IT TRUE? YEAH. SO SO LET’S LET’S GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF SOME CONTEXT ON THE SITUATION. SO WE’VE GOTTEN SO MANY PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO US THROUGH EMAIL, THROUGH FACEBOOK SAYING, HEY, YOU SEE THE WOOLY BEARS, IT’S ALL BLACK. OR IT’S LIKE IT’S SOME BROWN, SOME BLACK, RIGHT? LIKE, HOW’S THE WINTER GOING TO BE, RYAN? WELL, LET’S LET’S TAKE A STEP BACK. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WOOLY BEAR FOLKLORE TO BEGIN WITH. SO IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT, LET’S CHAT ABOUT IT HERE. SO THESE THIS CUTE LITTLE GUY THAT YOU’VE PROBABLY BEEN SEEING ON YOUR FRONT PORCH OR BACK PORCH, LIKE THOSE ME AND MICHAEL WERE SAYING THIS. YOU CAN SEE THE FUZZ ON IT. YOU CAN SEE THERE’S SOME BLACK AND THERE’S SOME BROWN ON IT. BUT IF THERE’S MORE BLACK THAN BROWN, RUMOR HAS IT THAT MEANS IT’S GOING TO BE A HARSHER WINTER. NOW STEP ON THIS SIDE OF THE SCREEN. IF THERE’S MORE BROWN THAN BLACK, THAT MEANS THAT THERE’S GOING TO BE A MILDER WINTER. OKAY, SO KEEP THAT IN MIND. WE DID GET SOME PICTURES FROM SOME FOLKS. WE DID. WE DID GET SOME PICTURES FROM JAMIE OUT OF WRIGHTSVILLE ISLAND FROM MOUNT GRETNA. MELISSA FROM COLUMBIA GOT SOME PICTURES FROM YOU GUYS. SO THANK YOU FOR SUBMITTING THOSE. BUT YOU CAN SEE IT’S A VARIATION OF THE FUR COLOR. SO IT’S NOT REALLY CONSISTENT. SO HERE’S IF YOU WANT A MORE OF LIKE AN EXPLAINER GRAPHIC. SO WE PUT THIS TOGETHER FOR YOU. SO AGAIN THE AMOUNT OF BLACK IN AUTUMN CORRELATES WITH THE SEVERITY OF THE UPCOMING WINTER. THAT’S THE FOLKLORE. IF THERE’S MORE BLACK LONGER, COLDER, SNOWY WINTER, IF YOU SEE MORE BROWN, THEN IT’S GOING TO BE A MILDER WINTER. AND ALSO THERE’S 13 SEGMENTS ON ITS BODY WHICH CORRESPOND TO THE 13 WEEKS OF WINTER. BUT THAT’S WHAT THE FOLKLORE SAYS. NOW HERE, DO GIVE ME A LITTLE DRUM ROLL HERE. WHAT IS IT? IS IT TRUE OR IS IT FALSE? IT IS. FALSE. GUYS. AND NO, THIS CATERPILLAR CANNOT FORECAST THE UPCOMING. I LOVE THAT GUY. BY THE WAY GUYS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. SO NO THIS CATERPILLAR GUYS THIS DOES NOT. THIS LITTLE GUY IS AS CUTE AS HE IS. HE CAN’T FORECAST THE WEATHER. THE THE WOOLY BEAR’S COLORING IS ALL BASED ON ITS FEEDING HABITS, ITS AGE, THE SPECIES, AND THE WIDTH OF THE BANDING INDICATES THE CURRENT OR THE PAST GROWING SEASON OF WHEN IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT WAS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH LIKE EVENTUALLY TURNING INTO A I THINK IT’S A MOTH. I THINK IT IS OR A BUTTERFLY LATER AS IT, AS IT COMES UP. BUT AGAIN, IF YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN HEARING ALL THE FOLKLORE AND THE AND THE RUMORS ABOUT THIS CATERPILLAR, NOPE, IT DOES NOT. IT DOES NOT FORECAST THE WEATHER. NOW ENJOY THE FOLKLORE. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE FORECASTING, AS WE LIKE TO SAY
Woolly bear caterpillars: Can they predict winter weather?
Woolly bear caterpillars, often seen crawling on porches, are rumored to have something up their sleeves in terms of forecasting winter weather.Meteorologist Ryan Argenti from Hearst sister station WGAL reveals the truth about these caterpillars.Woolly bear caterpillar folkloreThese caterpillars are hairy creatures featuring brown and black colors. Folklore says if these caterpillars have more black than brown color, you can expect harsh winter conditions. If there is more brown than black colors, you can expect a mild winter.The 13 segments on its body correspond to the 13 weeks of winter.Truth behind the folkloreThe woolly bear caterpillar cannot forecast the upcoming winter conditionsThe coloring on the caterpillar is based on feeding habits, age, and speciesThe width of the banding indicates the current or past growing season
Woolly bear caterpillars, often seen crawling on porches, are rumored to have something up their sleeves in terms of forecasting winter weather.
Meteorologist Ryan Argenti from Hearst sister station WGAL reveals the truth about these caterpillars.
Woolly bear caterpillar folklore
These caterpillars are hairy creatures featuring brown and black colors.
Folklore says if these caterpillars have more black than brown color, you can expect harsh winter conditions.
If there is more brown than black colors, you can expect a mild winter.
The 13 segments on its body correspond to the 13 weeks of winter.
Truth behind the folklore
The woolly bear caterpillar cannot forecast the upcoming winter conditions
The coloring on the caterpillar is based on feeding habits, age, and species
The width of the banding indicates the current or past growing season
Woolly bear caterpillars: Can they predict winter weather?
CRAWLING ON YOUR FRONT OR BACK PORCH. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE WOOLY BEAR CATERPILLAR. DEFINITELY HAVE SEEN THEM. RUMOR HAS IT THAT THESE CATERPILLARS MAY HAVE SOMETHING UP THEIR SLEEVES IN TERMS OF FORECASTING WINTER WEATHER. FOR MORE ON THAT, LET’S TURN OVER NOW TO STORM TEAM METEOROLOGIST RYAN ARGENT, WHO HAS THE TRUTH ABOUT THESE CATERPILLARS? RYAN, IS IT TRUE? YEAH. SO SO LET’S LET’S GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF SOME CONTEXT ON THE SITUATION. SO WE’VE GOTTEN SO MANY PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO US THROUGH EMAIL, THROUGH FACEBOOK SAYING, HEY, YOU SEE THE WOOLY BEARS, IT’S ALL BLACK. OR IT’S LIKE IT’S SOME BROWN, SOME BLACK, RIGHT? LIKE, HOW’S THE WINTER GOING TO BE, RYAN? WELL, LET’S LET’S TAKE A STEP BACK. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WOOLY BEAR FOLKLORE TO BEGIN WITH. SO IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT, LET’S CHAT ABOUT IT HERE. SO THESE THIS CUTE LITTLE GUY THAT YOU’VE PROBABLY BEEN SEEING ON YOUR FRONT PORCH OR BACK PORCH, LIKE THOSE ME AND MICHAEL WERE SAYING THIS. YOU CAN SEE THE FUZZ ON IT. YOU CAN SEE THERE’S SOME BLACK AND THERE’S SOME BROWN ON IT. BUT IF THERE’S MORE BLACK THAN BROWN, RUMOR HAS IT THAT MEANS IT’S GOING TO BE A HARSHER WINTER. NOW STEP ON THIS SIDE OF THE SCREEN. IF THERE’S MORE BROWN THAN BLACK, THAT MEANS THAT THERE’S GOING TO BE A MILDER WINTER. OKAY, SO KEEP THAT IN MIND. WE DID GET SOME PICTURES FROM SOME FOLKS. WE DID. WE DID GET SOME PICTURES FROM JAMIE OUT OF WRIGHTSVILLE ISLAND FROM MOUNT GRETNA. MELISSA FROM COLUMBIA GOT SOME PICTURES FROM YOU GUYS. SO THANK YOU FOR SUBMITTING THOSE. BUT YOU CAN SEE IT’S A VARIATION OF THE FUR COLOR. SO IT’S NOT REALLY CONSISTENT. SO HERE’S IF YOU WANT A MORE OF LIKE AN EXPLAINER GRAPHIC. SO WE PUT THIS TOGETHER FOR YOU. SO AGAIN THE AMOUNT OF BLACK IN AUTUMN CORRELATES WITH THE SEVERITY OF THE UPCOMING WINTER. THAT’S THE FOLKLORE. IF THERE’S MORE BLACK LONGER, COLDER, SNOWY WINTER, IF YOU SEE MORE BROWN, THEN IT’S GOING TO BE A MILDER WINTER. AND ALSO THERE’S 13 SEGMENTS ON ITS BODY WHICH CORRESPOND TO THE 13 WEEKS OF WINTER. BUT THAT’S WHAT THE FOLKLORE SAYS. NOW HERE, DO GIVE ME A LITTLE DRUM ROLL HERE. WHAT IS IT? IS IT TRUE OR IS IT FALSE? IT IS. FALSE. GUYS. AND NO, THIS CATERPILLAR CANNOT FORECAST THE UPCOMING. I LOVE THAT GUY. BY THE WAY GUYS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. SO NO THIS CATERPILLAR GUYS THIS DOES NOT. THIS LITTLE GUY IS AS CUTE AS HE IS. HE CAN’T FORECAST THE WEATHER. THE THE WOOLY BEAR’S COLORING IS ALL BASED ON ITS FEEDING HABITS, ITS AGE, THE SPECIES, AND THE WIDTH OF THE BANDING INDICATES THE CURRENT OR THE PAST GROWING SEASON OF WHEN IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT WAS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH LIKE EVENTUALLY TURNING INTO A I THINK IT’S A MOTH. I THINK IT IS OR A BUTTERFLY LATER AS IT, AS IT COMES UP. BUT AGAIN, IF YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN HEARING ALL THE FOLKLORE AND THE AND THE RUMORS ABOUT THIS CATERPILLAR, NOPE, IT DOES NOT. IT DOES NOT FORECAST THE WEATHER. NOW ENJOY THE FOLKLORE. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE FORECASTING, AS WE LIKE TO SAY
Woolly bear caterpillars: Can they predict winter weather?
Woolly bear caterpillars, often seen crawling on porches, are rumored to have something up their sleeves in terms of forecasting winter weather.Meteorologist Ryan Argenti from Hearst sister station WGAL reveals the truth about these caterpillars.Woolly bear caterpillar folkloreThese caterpillars are hairy creatures featuring brown and black colors. Folklore says if these caterpillars have more black than brown color, you can expect harsh winter conditions. If there is more brown than black colors, you can expect a mild winter.The 13 segments on its body correspond to the 13 weeks of winter.Truth behind the folkloreThe woolly bear caterpillar cannot forecast the upcoming winter conditionsThe coloring on the caterpillar is based on feeding habits, age, and speciesThe width of the banding indicates the current or past growing season
Woolly bear caterpillars, often seen crawling on porches, are rumored to have something up their sleeves in terms of forecasting winter weather.
Meteorologist Ryan Argenti from Hearst sister station WGAL reveals the truth about these caterpillars.
Woolly bear caterpillar folklore
These caterpillars are hairy creatures featuring brown and black colors.
Folklore says if these caterpillars have more black than brown color, you can expect harsh winter conditions.
If there is more brown than black colors, you can expect a mild winter.
The 13 segments on its body correspond to the 13 weeks of winter.
Truth behind the folklore
The woolly bear caterpillar cannot forecast the upcoming winter conditions
The coloring on the caterpillar is based on feeding habits, age, and species
The width of the banding indicates the current or past growing season
Oregon’s Dept. of Transportation readies plows and other apparatus ahead of winter weather.
Portland, Ore. – Oregon’s Department of Transportation continues its hiring blitz around the state in preparation for winter weather, but officials hope to have enough staff before the snow flies.
“We’re currently hiring as fast and quickly as possible to prepare. But you may not see the level of service you’ve come to expect from us in years past,” says ODOT Region One Manager Rian Windsheimer. ODOT’s David House says the goal is to at least meet the same service level as last year, “Last winter was a little lower level of service than historically we’ve had. But we think we can get to that point.”
Seasonal hiring was delayed until after the legislature passed a funding package for ODOT just over a month ago. Windsheimer says his Portland-area region still has dozens of openings, “In Region One, we have more than 35 vacant positions in Maintenance and Operations and our newly hired folks are going to require some training before they can plow snow, which is scheduled to occur in December.” He adds, “It means you’re more likely to see chain requirements and road closures. Some roads and passes may be closed longer than normal and after significant storms. There also may be slower responses to crashes and other emergencies, and it may take longer to clear major crashes.” Drivers are urged to plan ahead, carry chains and expect your trip during winter weather will take longer than normal.
House says mountain passes are fully staffed, but lower elevation highways could be another story during a storm, “There are times when we will recommend you stay off the roads for that amount of time. Reschedule your trip because it’s going to be either impossible or a lot more trouble than it’s worth.”
Real-time highway conditions are available at Tripcheck.com.
The D.C. area is in for an average to below-average winter of snowfall and slightly milder temperatures than normal, according to the winter forecast from 7News.
D.C. and its close-in suburbs are projected to get about 10 to 15 inches of snow, with more snow possible in Southern Maryland and farther north and west of D.C. (Courtesy 7News First Alert Weather Center)
The D.C. area is in for an average to below-average winter of snowfall and just slightly milder temperatures than normal, according to the winter forecast from WTOP’s partners in the 7News First Alert Weather Center.
The seasonal average snowfall in D.C. is 13.7 inches, and First Alert Weather is forecasting between 10 and 15 inches for the District and the close-in suburbs.
A bit farther north and west, in places such as Frederick, Maryland, and Leesburg, Virginia, First Alert Weather is anticipating between 15-20 inches of snowfall. The forecast also projects 15-20 inches for Southern Maryland.
The slightly below-average projection is driven by La Niña, which can also make things hard to predict in the mid-Atlantic region. The La Niña pattern typically affects the jet stream in a way that leads to more precipitation in northern parts of the U.S. and warmer and drier conditions in the South.
But that’s not always the case, and D.C. is positioned right in the middle.
La Niña’s weather pattern typically means more precipitation in northern regions of the U.S., and warmer and drier conditions in the South — but not always. (Courtesy 7News First Alert Weather Center)
Just last winter, with a La Niña pattern in effect, D.C. got an above-average 14.9 inches of snow.
“It doesn’t take very much in terms of fluctuation of weather patterns, a jet stream that’s maybe a little more south of there, to give us that wet weather. And what we’re looking at then this year … is going with conditions that were similar to last year,” 7News First Alert Chief Meteorologist Veronica Johnson said.
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Winter forecast is here: How much snow will fall this winter in the DC area?
As was the case last winter, it only takes one big storm to drastically change D.C.’s snowfall totals.
So when might that happen? Johnson said don’t hold your breath for a white Christmas, though there could be a smattering of snow.
The First Alert Weather Center is forecasting 2-3 inches of snow for the month of December, which historically sees less snowfall in the mid-Atlantic.
The main event may come in January, as it did last year when a storm during the first full week of the new year dumped up to 10 inches in parts of the D.C. region.
“Coastal storms during this time could give us all of that in one big storm. So it’s really something that we’re going to have to watch, especially with the position of the jet stream,” Johnson said. “But if that jet (stream) comes in and hugs the coast, and you’ve got some coastal storms that are tracking right along it up the coast, that could be your 5-10 inches in one storm during the month of January. And I do think that it’s still going to be active during the month of February.”
Johnson said her team is projecting 3-7 inches of snowfall in February.
“It’s a pattern that fits kind of a slow start, but a pretty good finish,” she said.
As far as temperatures, the First Alert Weather Center said it may shape up to be a slightly milder winter than normal. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be cold snaps.
Temperatures are projected to be just above normal this winter. (Courtesy 7News First Alert Weather Center)
“All it takes is these cold stretches during the winter,” Johnson said. “Overall, the temperatures can average out slightly higher, but with a couple of cold stretches embedded during the month of January and February, we can get that snowfall.”
And if La Niña neutralizes toward the end of winter, that could mean more precipitation during the month of February.
“The other thing we’re going to have to watch this winter too is the potential to get some storms, unlike last year, that have a bit more freezing rain at the beginning or at the tail end,” Johnson said.
While there’s plenty of data to provide a road map, Johnson pointed out that forecasting is not an exact science and winter can be full of surprises.
“If there was some magical ball that we could look at to come up with a forecast, boy, I sure would be using that to win the lottery,” she said. “So it is not set in stone. I would say at this point, it’s a forecast, it’s somewhere around 65% to 70% confidence factor in it with a winter that has yet to start.”
Meteorological winter begins Dec. 1.
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Go back to a cold morning. (It could even be when you woke up this Tuesday morning.)
Do you recall smelling your neighbor’s fireplace? Maybe you heard a train and thought, “I didn’t know we lived by train tracks?!”
You can blame temperature inversions in the lowest layers of the atmosphere for activating your senses.
What is a temperature inversion?
A temperature inversion refers to when air just above the surface is warmer than the ground level.
You’ll often find this on calm, clear and cold mornings in the fall, winter and spring.
The clear sky is like a bed without a blanket, so all of the day’s warmth can escape back up into space.
This leads to quicker and more emphatic cooling at ground level.
Why temperatures cool so quickly on a clear and calm night.
Meanwhile, above the surface, your temperatures can be several degrees higher.
Temperature inversions happen when air above the surface is warmer.
In my first TV market, it was common for a town called Big Stone Gap to be 15-20° cooler than the nearest town- Wise. The reason? Big Stone Gap was 1,000 feet lower in elevation than Wise.
What role do inversions play on our senses?
The layer of warm air above the surface can be thought of as a strong defensive line, trapping the quarterback in the pocket and collapsing in on him.
If the QB tries to escape the pocket, he’s sacked immediately.
Football analogies aside, the warmer air above traps sounds, smells and even sights at ground level.
This is why you’ll often smell smoke on mornings after a fireworks display, bonfire, etc. It’s also why you might hear train horns blowing or animals howling in the distance.
How temperature inversions trap smells and sounds.
One of my favorite examples of this in any movie is early on in the Polar Express. I’m sure they were totally thinking of meteorology when creating that (ha!).
Why do inversions matter with winter precipitation?
Inversions play a big role on our winters, too.
It’s often tough for us to get an all snow event when forecasting winter weather. If you’ve lived here long enough, you know how quickly things can change to sleet and freezing rain.
Our relatively close proximity to the Atlantic and the warm Gulf Stream gives us that layer of warm air over cold surface air, leading to an annoying mix of precipitation.
Temperature inversions can influence precipitation types.
What can we expect this coming winter?
WRAL meteorologists will release the 2025-2026 winter outlook on WRAL’s 6:00 p.m. newscast, Monday, November 24, 2025.
Elizabeth Gardner and I will also discuss things in further detail on the WRAL YouTube page.
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Have questions about the weather and how it works?
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued its winter outlook, sharing what we could expect for the coming months.
According to their outlook, Minnesota stands a greater-than-average chance for more snow and colder temperatures this winter, pertaining to the three months that make up the meteorological season: December, January and February.
WCCO
However, WCCO’s Mike Augustyniak says this outlook is based on the forecast for weak La Niña conditions in the early part of the winter.
“Not all La Niña winters produce cold, snowy winters around here,” Augustyniak says. “What La Niña always does produce is a volatile jet stream; that can bring weeks-long stretches of both cold air and mild air.”
Augustyniak says that this winter’s La Niña pattern is expected to be very weak.
WCCO
The El Niño phenomenon occurs when sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific are warmer than average. El Niño and its opposite phase, La Niña, are among the many factors that can create global weather extremes.
The winter of 2022-2023 — a weak La Niña year, as with this year’s forecast — was a half-degree above average, temperature-wise, with exceptional January warmth. The La Niña winter of 2016-2017 was even more extreme, with temperatures about 5.6 degrees above average, and more than 6 inches of snow below average.
According to Climate Central, winter is the fastest-warming season for Minnesota, Wisconsin and 36 other states, thanks to climate change. Since 1970, our average winter temperature has gone up about 5 degrees, with nearly two extra weeks featuring temperatures warmer than normal.
JUNEAU, Alaska — JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — More rain and wind were forecast Wednesday along the Alaskan coast where two tiny villages were decimated by the remnants of Typhoon Halong and officials were scrambling to find shelter for more than 1,500 people driven from their homes.
The weekend storm brought high winds and surf that battered the low-lying Alaska Native communities along the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in the southwestern part of the state, nearly 500 miles (800 km) from Anchorage. At least one person was killed and two were missing. The Coast Guard plucked two dozen people from their homes after the structures floated out to sea.
Hundreds were staying in school shelters, including one with no working toilets, officials said. The weather system followed a storm that struck parts of western Alaska days earlier.
Across the region, more than 1,500 people were displaced. Dozens were flown to a shelter set up in the National Guard armory in the regional hub city of Bethel, a community of 6,000 people, and officials were considering flying evacuees to longer-term shelter or emergency housing in Fairbanks and Anchorage.
The hardest-hit communities included Kipnuk, population 715, and Kwigillingok, population 380. They are off the state’s main road system and reachable this time of year only by water or by air.
“It’s catastrophic in Kipnuk. Let’s not paint any other picture,” Mark Roberts, incident commander with the state emergency management division, told a news conference Tuesday. “We are doing everything we can to continue to support that community, but it is as bad as you can think.”
Among those awaiting evacuation to Bethel on Tuesday was Brea Paul, of Kipnuk, who said in a text message that she had seen about 20 homes floating away through the moonlight on Saturday night.
“Some houses would blink their phone lights at us like they were asking for help but we couldn’t even do anything,” she wrote.
The following morning, she recorded video of a house submerged nearly to its roofline as it floated past her home.
Paul and her neighbors had a long meeting in the local school gym on Monday night. They sang songs as they tried to figure out what to do next, she said. Paul wasn’t sure where she would go.
“It’s so heartbreaking saying goodbye to our community members not knowing when we’d get to see each other,” she said.
About 30 miles (48 kilometers) away in Kwigillingok, one woman was found dead and authorities on Monday night called off the search for two men whose home floated away.
The school was the only facility in town with full power, but it had no working toilet and 400 people stayed there Monday night. Workers were trying to fix the bathrooms; a situation report from the state emergency operations center on Tuesday noted that portable toilets, or “honey buckets,” were being used.
A preliminary assessment showed every home in the village was damaged by the storm, with about three dozen having drifted from their foundations, the emergency management office said.
Power systems flooded in Napakiak, and severe erosion was reported in Toksook Bay. In Nightmute, officials said fuel drums were reported floating in the community, and there was a scent of fuel in the air and a sheen on the water.
The National Guard was activated to help with the emergency response, and crews were trying to take advantage of any breaks in the weather to fly in food, water, generators and communication equipment.
Officials warned of a long road to recovery and a need for continued support for the hardest-hit communities. Most rebuilding supplies would have to be transported in and there is little time left with winter just around the corner.
“Indigenous communities in Alaska are resilient,” said Rick Thoman, an Alaska climate specialist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. “But, you know, when you have an entire community where effectively every house is damaged and many of them will be uninhabitable with winter knocking at the door now, there’s only so much that any individual or any small community can do.”
Thoman said the storm was likely fueled by the warm surface waters of the Pacific Ocean, which has been heating up because of human-caused climate change and making storms more intense.
STEVENS PASS, Wash. – Washington’s mountains could see their first round of snow this week, forecasts project.
Timeline:
Weather models are predicting snow could hit mountain passes as low as 4,500 feet from Sunday into Monday. That includes Stevens Pass, though Snoqualmie Pass will have to wait a bit longer.
Mountain peaks at elevations of 5,000 feet or higher could see between 3-6 inches of snow this weekend. That means several inches are possible in areas like the North Cascades Highway heading into next week.
Snow levels will drop to 4,000 feet Sunday and Monday in the Washington Cascades. (FOX 13 Seattle)
Again, snowy conditions are only expected in the mountains, with lower elevation areas expected to see another round of fall rain. Lingering showers are expected in Seattle through Tuesday.
As temperatures start to cool down across western Washington, FOX 13 Seattle is tracking the latest conditions at the passes as the first round of snowfall arrives.
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The Source: Information in this story comes from weather models interpreted by FOX 13 Seattle Chief Meteorologist Brian MacMillan and the National Weather Service.
You’d think with temperatures as warm as they are, snow is nowhere to be found. But think again! Trollhaugen in Dresser, Wisconsin piled up a bunch of the white stuff back in March in hopes of using it for their 20th anniversary Rail Jam this weekend.
For six months, this massive mound of snow has been struggling to survive under the beating sun, summer heat and everything else mother nature has thrown our way.
“There is tarp, hay and snow. And that is all. That is the three main ingredients to saving snow,” said Matt Boudreaux, Assistant Mountain Manager at Trollhaugen.
This is the fifth year Trollhaugen has saved snow from the previous season, experimenting with different techniques each year. Unofficially known as one of the snow scientists, Boudreaux said at one point the pile stood more than 30 feet tall. Now, it’s closer to 10 or 15 feet.
“We kind of just assume we’ll lose about 50% is kind of our number that we throw around,” Boudreaux said.
The plan is to spread it out across Tomtebakken Terrain Park for more than 300 skiers and boarders from all over to get their itch scratched ahead of the season. And new this year to celebrate the anniversary, they’ll even have the rope tow running.
“I’m excited. I’m sure everybody else is beyond themselves to be able to snowboard this early without having to really travel to do it,” said Boudreaux.
Even with the warm weather forecasted, Boudreaux said there will be about a 2 foot base to go along with all the other activites planned for the weekend.
“The balcony or the patio is a great viewing spot. And it’s just a great excuse to drive up the St Croix River and see something you haven’t seen.”
If you can’t make it this weekend, they’re hoping to just be closed for a couple of weeks before they open for the season for good come November.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, weather has been a passion for Adam for as long as he can remember! Whether it was thunderstorms or winter storms, Adam has always been geeking out. After earning his meteorology degree from Penn State, he made his way to the Ohio Valley to forecast for WTOV.
The thermometer may currently read 80 or 90 degrees, but now is the time when Minnesotans concerned about paying for energy costs this winter will want to create a payment plan so their heat isn’t turned off.
Although Minnesota has a Cold Weather Rule that prevents a utility service from being disconnected for both renters and homeowners, customers must also have a payment plan set up and maintained. The payment agreement will need to be agreed upon by both the customer and the company.
If a payment plan can’t be reached, customers can appeal under the Cold Weather Rule. According to CenterPoint Energy, a payment agreement will not only take into account the customer’s financial situation but also extenuating household circumstances.
However, officials with NEADA say homeowners with electric heat are expected to see an even higher increase. The average price last winter was $1,093, and this year, NEADA projects that same average cost to be $1,205. That’s an increase of $112, or 10.2%.
The Cold Weather Rule takes effect on Wednesday and lasts through April 30. If you want to create a payment plan, you should contact your utility provider to do so.
Autumn apple picking this year might be more challenging than usual, due to a late frost this past April.
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Late April frost could challenge apple pickers in Virginia this fall
Autumn apple picking this year might be more challenging than usual, due to a late frost this past April.
“All of the growers in this area suffered from that frost, and as a result, they have a much lighter crop of apples than they normally would,” said Cheryll Green, who works at the family-owned Hartland Orchard in Markham, Virginia.
The unexpected frost in the last week of April damaged apple crops in Fauquier and Loudoun counties.
“It happens when the apple trees are in bloom; it kills the blossom — the part that becomes the apple,” Green said.
While supply was down for apples that are picked and eaten earlier in the season, late-season varieties, including Fujis, should be plentiful.
“We’re seeing that with more Granny Smiths on the trees, as a result of them coming on maybe a little later,” Green said. “From now on through November, they probably will be good apples to pick.”
The orchard is open daily, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Apples are $20 for a half bushel, cash or checks only. The farm market also offers freshly made apple cider doughnuts and caramel corn.
“Families have a limited number of things where every member of the family will have a good time, from a toddler up through a teenager,” she said. “This is one of those things.”
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The Ice Castles will return to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for the second year in a row.
“Winter is such a magical time of year,” said Ice Castles CEO Kyle Standifird. “We’re honored to be returning to the iconic Minnesota State Fairgrounds, and we’re excited to introduce fun new enhancements to the experience as we celebrate our 15th anniversary.”
Construction at the fairgrounds will begin in November, with the company hoping to open the attraction in late December.
The Ice Castles announced they were moving to the fairgrounds last year after previously being in Maple Grove. Due to our warm December they were not able to open until January.
Chloe is a digital producer at CBS Minnesota in Minneapolis and has worked in numerous positions at the station, including Assignment Editor, Digital Line Producer and Web Producer. She started her career at CBS Minnesota in 2015.
For those who like to crank the thermostat up during the winter, a new report showing data for the Midwest and other parts of the country says you should be prepared for a much higher price tag this season if you have electric heat.
Friday’s report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association says that on average, heating costs will increase by more than 7.5% from last winter across the country, from $907 to $976. However, officials with NEADA say homeowners with electric heat are expected to see an even higher increase.
The average price last winter was $1,093, and this year, NEADA projects that same average cost to be $1,205. That’s an increase of $112, or 10.2%.
The association says electrical bill increases are due to the construction of large data centers, the rising cost of natural gas as well as maintaining and upgrading the electrical grid.
The report went on to break down estimated winter heating costs by region by using regional temperature and price projections. In the Midwest, electric heat users on average spent $1,251 last winter, according to the report, which projects this winter to cost $1,498. That’s an increase of $246, or nearly 20%.
Meanwhile, natural gas users in the Midwest should see an average increase of $99, while propane users should see an increase of about $5. Those are increases of 16.4% and 0.5% from last winter, respectively.
Since the winter of 2021-2022, NEADA says the average winter heating cost has risen by 31% for electric users and 26.5% for those who use natural gas.
According to NEADA, roughly 21 million households are behind on energy bills. Nationally, 3 million homes had their energy shut off in 2023, and another 3.5 million followed suit in 2024. This year, that number could reach 4 million.
In Minnesota, a state law known as the Cold Weather Rule prevents utility services from being shut off from Oct. 1 to April 30, while the Extreme Heat Law makes sure electricity isn’t turned off when temperatures reach excessive heat levels. However, to make sure your service isn’t disconnected, a payment plan must be made and agreed upon by the user and the utility company. A payment plan can be set up at any time during the Cold Weather Rule season.
FILE – A view of a damaged road connecting the two cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe following heavy rains caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Blantyre, Malawi, Tuesday, March 14 2023. The U.N. weather agency said Tuesday, July 2, 2024 that Tropical Cyclone Freddy, a deadly Indian Ocean storm that lashed eastern Africa last year, was confirmed to be the longest-lasting cyclone ever recorded at 36 days. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi, File)
After days of intense flooding in Florida, that state and many others are bracing for an intense heat wave, while the Pacific Northwest will experience unseasonably cold weather and the potential for late-season snow in the Rocky Mountains early next week.
The chaotic weather map includes the potential for severe thunderstorms developing in between the hot and cold fronts. Forecasters said the colliding fronts could lead to areas of flash flooding between eastern Nebraska and northern Wisconsin on Saturday night, as well as strong storms across parts of eastern Montana into North and South Dakota.
Meanwhile, a plume of tropical moisture will reach the central Gulf Coast during the next couple days, with heavy rain expected to start Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters said the threat of heavy rains in Florida continues to dissipate, but some thunderstorms could cause local flooding given the already saturated soil. Some areas between Miami and Fort Lauderdale were left underwater in recent days as persistent storms dumped up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) in southern parts of the state.
The damaging no-name storm system coincided with the early June start of hurricane season, which this year is forecast to be among the most active in recent memory amid concerns that climate change is increasing storm intensity.
With flood waters receding in Florida, temperatures were rising Saturday across much of the southern U.S.
In Atlanta, where temperatures were forecast to near 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) on Saturday and Sunday, city officials opened a cooling center to provide relief from the heat. The city announced that a “Family and Friends Field Day” had been postponed because of the high temperatures forecast.
And in the west Texas city of El Paso, Saturday highs were expected to approach 105 degrees F (40.6 degrees C) and the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory through Monday morning for the region. The city has opened five cooling centers that will operate daily until further notice.
Temperatures in the Mid-Atlantic and New England will likely peak in the mid to upper 90s next week, which is “nothing to sneeze at even in the middle of the summer, let alone this early in the summer,” said National Weather Service meteorologist William Churchill.
“That’s what’s particularly remarkable about this,” he said, noting that high humidity will also make it feel even hotter in many places.
Last year, the U.S. had the most heat waves — abnormally hot weather lasting more than two days — since 1936. In the South and Southwest, last year was the worst on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Next week’s heat wave will ramp up Sunday in the center of the country before spreading eastward, the National Weather Service said, with some areas likely to see extreme heat in reaching daily records. The heat wave could last all week and into the weekend in many places.
While most of the country experiences the season’s first stretch of hot weather, parts of Montana have been placed under winter storm watches with a potential for wet snow falling Monday night.
Churchill said the northwestern cold front is connected to the heat wave because one extreme is often accompanied by the other.
