Wednesday’s snow chances for DC region limited to brief flurries, rain

Wednesday’s snowfall forecast from the National Weather Service, showing a trace amount — at best — from the District and Baltimore westward. (Courtesy NWS)

D.C. region residents might see a brief flurry outside their window on Wednesday morning, but don’t expect much more than that: December’s first snowfall, forecasters say, is poised to disappoint.

A moisture-starved Alberta clipper will bring light rain and wet snow to much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast through Wednesday afternoon, but any precipitation should be quick before the system clears out of the area by evening.

A glimpse at the National Weather Service’s snow totals forecast showed less than an inch west of the Interstate 95 corridor — even for Maryland and Virginia’s higher elevations. Blame the prevalence of dry air and temperatures too warm for flakes to stick.

“The bottom line is that nobody will get a full inch of snow,” Storm Team4 meteorologist Chuck Bell said. “For those lucky few areas that do get a few hours of flakes, the only potential for accumulation will be on grassy areas and elevated decks.”

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A cold northwesterly breeze and a clearing sky will cause temperatures to plunge below freezing on Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Bell said drivers should be aware of possible black ice on roadways tomorrow, but a dry, northwest flow should keep it from becoming a widespread problem.

Friday gives rise to a warming trend, with Saturday poised to be the region’s second 70-degree day so far this December — albeit a damp one, with an incoming zone of low pressure bringing rainfall after noon.