Another Winter Curveball Late Friday

Brought to you by Chesapeake Orthodontics

We’re keeping a close eye on our next storm system, which is shaping up to impact the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast the day after Christmas, Friday, December 26th. While there is still time for changes, recent trends have been consistent — and they point toward a much colder and more impactful setup than earlier forecasts suggested.

Earlier model runs showed this system tracking farther north, which would have brought a mostly warm rain to much of our region. Over the past few days, however, the track has shifted steadily south, sending the system east across the Ohio River Valley before it runs into a strong area of high pressure anchored over southern Canada. This creates a classic cold air damming (CAD) setup — a situation where cold, dense air becomes trapped near the surface east of the Appalachians while warmer air rides over top. When precipitation moves into this kind of environment, it often leads to wintry precipitation, even if surface temperatures are marginal.

What This Means for Impacts

As precipitation overspreads the region on Friday, it will likely start as snow, especially north of Baltimore, where colder air will be more firmly in place. Farther south, snow may quickly transition to sleet and freezing rain before eventually changing to plain rain as warmer air pushes in. The farther north you go, the longer the snow is likely to last, with mostly snow across New England and mostly rain across southern Virginia. While it’s too early to lock in exact totals, areas north of Baltimore are favored to see at least a couple of inches of snow, with lower snow totals but measurable ice accumulation possible across the wintry-mix zone. Given the post-holiday timing, this setup has a high potential to disrupt travel across the Northeast on Friday, making it a system worth watching closely in the days ahead.

Stay with JB Weather for the latest information on impacts here in Southern Maryland and across the Mid-Atlantic. You can always access my forecasts and updates here on the website, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram, and on YouTube. JB Weather is the Mid-Atlantic’s Weather Leader, and I am working around the clock to keep you ahead of any storm!

Dr. Thomas Hao and Dr. Dylan Schneider offer comprehensive orthodontic services for all ages. Schedule your free consultation today. Visit www.SOMDBraces.com today for more information!