Winter Forecast For Maryland: What To Expect In 2017-18

Marylanders, do you remember where your snow shovel is? Residents of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic states, New York City or Boston may all see more snow this winter than last year's relatively flake-free season. If you live in the Northern Plains and parts of the Midwest, you may want to dig out your wool socks and extra layers, according to a new winter forecast released Wednesday. Temperatures in the northern Plains could plummet to below 30 degrees below zero, the forecast says.

AccuWeather says areas that typically receive large amounts of lake-effect snow — Cleveland, Ohio; Erie, Pennsylvania; and Buffalo, New York — should brace for mountains of snow and frequent shoveling. Both snow and ice are predicted in Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and throughout the Northeast. "A very chilly winter is in store," the weather service says.

Winter will be comparatively balmy in the Southern Plains, the Southwest and southern California, where forecasters say winter will be milder and drier than last year. (For more events and local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alertsand newsletters from Annapolis Patch, and click here to find your local Maryland Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Paul Pastelok, the lead long-range weather forecaster for AccuWeather, says that snowfall amounts in Baltimore, Washington, DC, and the MidAtlantic region should be within a few inches of normal. “Areas in the I-95 corridor will average close to normal, within a few inches,” he said. “Areas away from the I-95 corridor have a better chance at a big snowfall.”

It should be a good season for skiing in the Northeast, the Colorado Rockies and the Northwest, the forecaster says. Additionally, the forecast holds good news for skiers and those who think it isn’t Christmas without snow.

“I think this year is going to bring a good ski season in the Northeast,” Pastelok said. “And around the holidays we should have some snow for the interior Northeast.”

Here’s a closer look at the forecast in different parts of the country:

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States

It will be colder than last year and snowfall is expected to be normal to above-normal, depending on where you live. In addition to Cleveland, Erie and Buffalo, snowfall in New York City and Boston could be about 6 inches above normal, “within a few inches,” Pastelok said.

“Areas away from the I-95 corridor have a better chance at a big snowfall,” he said.

SEE ALSO: Farmers' Almanac Releases Winter 2018 Forecast For Maryland

The Farmers’ Almanac said in its long-range prediction for winter 2018, released in August, that the news won't be good for Maryland and other Mid-Atlantic states, unless you like to go sledding or you drive a four-wheel-drive truck. The publication says that based on its formula many areas will see "above-normal" precipitation.

It means Maryland will experience "above-normal" precipitation and that the region will have a "cold-and-snowy" winter.

But there is disagreement in the various long-range forecasts. The Old Farmer’s Almanac winter weather forecast released in September calls for a warmer than normal winter for much of the state with above-normal precipitation and below-normal snowfall. The coldest periods will be in late December, early and mid-January, and early and mid-February. The snowiest periods will be in mid- to late November, early and mid- to late January, and mid-March.

For most of the state, November - particularly later in the month - will be a little cold, while December will be a little warmer than usual, an average high around 40 degrees, says the Old Farmer’s Almanac forecast. Some snow could arrive in late November, but most of the winter weather is expected to happen in January and February, when the average temperatures are expected to dip into the low 30s. Snow also is expected to arrive in March, perhaps in the middle of the month.

SEE ALSO: Old Farmer's Almanac Issues Winter 2018 Maryland Forecast

Southeast and Tennessee Valle

Air temperatures will run above normal in most of the Southeast, especially Florida and Georgia, where the risk of a damaging freeze is lower than in past years. Florida, inundated with rain after Hurricane Irma, is expected to remain mostly dry.

In the western areas of the region, weather could be colder overall, and Pastelok said a few ice storms could hit the area stretching from the Tennessee Valley to northeast Texas.

Tornadoes aren’t out of the question, either. In January 2017, the area from Texas to Georgia was pummeled by 137 tornadoes. Pastelok expects the region to be experience tornadoes in February.

Northern Plains

Arctic cold blasts are expected to plunge Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa and most of Missouri into the deep freeze on a regular basis, but the drier, colder air will carry less moisture, so huge, frequent snowfalls shouldn’t be a problem.

The coldest air — minus 30-degree Fahrenheit temperatures (and that doesn’t include the windchill) — will be in the Dakotas, Pastelok said.

Southern Plains

The chilliest temperatures could come in mid-winter, and arctic air blowing in from Canada could lead to freezes in late January, Pastelok said. Overall, though, a cold winter isn’t predicted.

Despite roller-coaster temperatures overall, southwest Texas could experience above-normal temperatures.

And while some storms are predicted, the winter will be mostly dry in the Southern Plains.

“We do feel there are going to be some storms in northwest Texas at times,” Pastelok said. “Southwest Texas could see some but not as frequent as in past winters.”

Northwest and Rockies

A weak La Niña predicted to develop this winter is expected to provide ideal skiing conditions in the Northwest, including the Cascades, and the Rockies.

“I think the Bitterroot chain all the way down to the Wasatch region in the central and northern Rockies has a good shot to be above normal on snowfall this season,” Pastelok said.

Northern California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range is expected to be less snowy, but the area should receive enough snowfall for good skiing conditions — but it’s not likely to be so significant that people won’t be able to reach resorts, Pastelok said.

Southwest

Dry, warm weather is predicted. In fact, Pastelok said, temperatures could reach into the 90s by early 2018.

Patch file photo