Does winter still have a closing act for the D.C. area?

[elleng]

March is fickle, and it’s premature to rule out more cold weather and even snow.

'Springlike warmth has arrived in the D.C. area, and, with several straight days of 70-degree weather predicted, it may seem as though winter has ended. But we need to be careful about jumping to that conclusion.

March is a notoriously fickle month, and we probably have at least one bout — if not two — of cool or even cold weather to come. It is also too early to rule out any more snow or mixed precipitation.

When it could get chilly again>>>

We have a chance to hit 70 degrees or higher daily through Friday, marking our warmest stretch of weather since the first half of November. On Tuesday afternoon, the mercury climbed to 72 degrees in Washington, the warmest since Nov. 10 (when it was 76). But high temperatures will ease back into the 50s over the weekend as a cold front pushes south through the area on Friday night.

Next Monday is when things could turn a little interesting and, for those who are over winter weather, disheartening. While models still show a range of possibilities, highs could get stuck in the 40s. Not only that, the American model is hinting that we could see a mix of rain, sleet and snow, as high pressure to the north feeds cold air south at the same time that moisture streams in from the west.

The European model does not hold the cold air in as long as the American one does and delays the onset of any precipitation until it is too warm for anything but rain. Regardless of which model is right, early next week will probably bring periods of raw, chilly weather.

We’ve seen snow well into March a few times in recent years.>>>

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/03/09/when-is-winter-over-in-washington/?

[Botany]

1. no

https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/dc/washington

[elleng]

2. DITTO for southern MD!

https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/md/lusby

It's a GOOD thing, as awaiting return of the ospreys from their south/central American winter!

AND, WP continues: 'Models conflict on late month pattern
Next week, the weather promises to be volatile, with a chilly, unsettled period to start the week, a possible midweek warm-up, and then perhaps another burst of cold toward the conclusion.

Then, the big wild card is how the forecast will shape up for the final third of March. The European and Canadian long-range models favor a mild end to March, but the American CFS model shows a cold pattern.

How the month ends will have important implications for the peak bloom date for the cherry blossoms. Warmer weather would tend to allow for a peak bloom to start in early April, while a colder pattern could push it back into the second week of April.

[hlthe2b]

3. The front range of CO (Denver to Ft. Collins & north to WY) projected 3 to 4 FEET this weekend!

So, careful what you wish for.

Granted early models are often way out there, but...

https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2021/03/09/colorado-see-significant-snowstorm-but-big-one/4641356001/

A powerful snowstorm headed for Colorado isn't likely to reach epic levels predicted in some initial forecast models, but meteorologists agree the weekend storm will be significant.

Early models of the storm, expected to arrive Friday night, called for about 4 feet of snow for the Fort Collins area. That would be a record breaker.

As of Tuesday, those outlier forecasts are being dismissed with a best guess four days ahead of the storm: closer to maybe half that much, with the potential for more.

[elleng]

4. Lots of guessing, it appears!

[TreasonousBastard]

5. March-- I remember April snow, like this one...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_April_Fool%27s_Day_blizzard


?resize=1200%2C800

[elleng]

6. WOW!

'The storm dumped rain, sleet, and snow from Maryland to Maine leaving hundreds of thousands without power and as much as three feet of snow on the ground.'

Clearly, I should REMEMBER that one!

[Walleye]

7. In Delaware we say that March comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion

[No Vested Interest]

8. Aren't cherry blossoms due in D. C. very soon - about one month?

[elleng]

9. YES!

National Cherry Blossom Festival unveils hybrid plan for 2021, peak bloom expected April 2-5.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10445144