What's In Store For MD This Winter: Here's What AccuWeather Says

MARYLAND — With the official start of the 2021-22 winter a little more than two months away, some Maryland residents may be planning their outdoor activities and itching for snow.

It may come sooner than expected, as AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Paul Pastelok predicts "early-season cold and snow" in November on the Interstate 95 corridor as well as along coastal areas in the northeast.

However, the mid-Atlantic is likely to see less snow than average, according to the AccuWeather forecast.

On average, the D.C. region gets 15.6 inches of snow during winter, according to AccuWeather.

Baltimore saw 10.9 inches of snow during the 2020–2021 season, and Washington, D.C., got 5.4 inches of snowfall, the National Weather Service reported.

AccuWeather is predicting 7 to 11 inches of snow this season for the D.C. area this season.

To help you firm up your winter plans, the private weather company AccuWeather has released its 2021 winter weather forecast.

Daily forecasts for Maryland are listed through the end of December. After that, AccuWeather lists the historical average temperature for the rest of the winter.

Here's a look at the next few months in the Baltimore-Washington area, according to AccuWeather:

• October: High temperatures are likely to be in the 70s, dropping to the 60s the last week of the month.
• November: The high will be 72 degrees on Nov. 1. Temps will bounce around the 50s and 60s for the rest of the month, with a few days in the 40s mid-month (Nov. 10–12).
• December: Temperatures will be in the 50s, with more than 10 days in the 40s in the end of the month.
• January: Temperatures will likely be in the 40s.
• February: Temperatures will likely be in the 40s.

Nationally, AccuWeather predicts an eventful winter similar to the 2020-21 season, which brought record-breaking snowfall and blackouts to some parts of the country.

Meteorologists also expect the return of La Niña, a weather phenomenon that occurs when the water near the equator of the Pacific Ocean is cooler than average. It will shape part of the overall weather patterns this winter, weather experts said.

The upcoming La Niña will be weaker than the one experienced last winter, in turn, opening up the door for other elements to factor into the winter forecast — especially during the second half of the season.

This year, the polar vortex may also be weaker, according to AccuWeather.

This could result in colder air from the Arctic to slide southward into the U.S. before the official start of meteorological winter, which is on Dec. 1. The first official astronomical day of winter arrives on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

Winter may pound the Northeast with a vengeance starting in mid-December before potentially intensifying in January, which could include a heightened risk for nor'easters and, yes, snowstorms at the tail end of the season.

Meanwhile, the winter weather will take its time arriving in the Southeast, with only mild temps in some place throughout December. Southerners, however, could be in store for a big dip in the temperature with the arrival of 2022, AccuWeather reports. Spells of rain and thunderstorms are expected, so keep the rain gear handy.

In the Pacific Northwest, a wet winter is anticipated with plenty of snow in the mountains, AccuWeather reports. The early arrival of the winter storms will also spell an end to the active wildfire season for the region as rain and snow help to douse any flames.

In the Southwest, meteorologists predict that the lack of early-season precipitation will allow the ongoing wildfire season to extend all the way into December, an unusually late end to the season. As we move to January, the prospects for rain will increase for California - good news for areas of the state where wildfires have raged.

To see how the weather is shaping up for the remainder of the country, click here.

Are you ready for the winter? Tell us your plans in the comments.

— By Elizabeth Janney and Nikki Gaskins

See Also: Farmers' Almanac Winter Forecast For 2021–2022: What's In Store For Maryland