Virginia Winter Forecast 2015-16: Rain to Start, But Mystery Finish

By GREG HAMBRICK (Patch Staff)

You’ll need an umbrella for the start of the winter season, but your snow boots might come in handy, eventually.

That’s the certain, then uncertain winter forecast offered in the latest analysis from AccuWeather.

The clear part: The El Niño weather system is going to bring a wetter winter to the region. And, generally speaking, temperatures will be higher than usual.

But the second half of the season is still a mystery for the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, says AccuWeather Expert Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok.

“We just don’t know exactly yet whether or not we’re going to see the pattern turn cold and snowy,” he said. “...There is an opportunity that [the weather] could change on us as we get into February and early March.”

The National Weather Service also says that a strong El Niño means more precipitation, but they’re just as reserved about what that means for the snow this season.

“Of the six strong El Niño winters since 1950, three have been associated with well above normal snowfall while snowfall was virtually absent in the other three winters,” according to an NWS statement.