Official Snowfall Forecast: Historic Weekend Snowstorm + Sleet Threat for DC-Baltimore

In this special episode of Under the Radar, meteorologist Seth Cohen delivers his first official forecast for the major winter storm impacting the DC-Baltimore region this weekend. We break down the expected timing—snow arriving Sunday morning from southwest to northeast, a likely mix of sleet and freezing rain Sunday afternoon (especially along the I-95 corridor and points south/east), and a return to snow Sunday night—followed by dangerously cold air settling in for the week ahead. Seth explains why the storm track is so critical, how recent model trends and enhanced data sampling (including extra weather balloons and Hurricane Hunter flights) are boosting confidence in a high-impact system, and the key uncertainties still in play: low-level dry air leading to initial virga, the warm wedge aloft driving sleet/ice risks, and the potential dry slot that could cut into accumulation in some areas. This could be one of the most significant winter events for our region since January 2019 (and with echoes of the 2016 blizzard in some spots)—the question isn't if, but where the heaviest impacts hit hardest. For the latest hyper-local updates, check weather.gov with your zip code. Stay tuned for tomorrow's episode on the brutal cold behind the storm, and possibly a final Saturday night update. Subscribe/follow Under the Radar for all the developments—stay safe and prepared!