Arctic Blast And Heavy Snow Set To Slam D.C. Region

Washington, D.C. is bracing for what could be its most significant winter storm in years, as a surge of Arctic air and a powerful weather system are set to converge on the region this weekend. After a brief respite from the recent cold snap—with Thursday, January 22, 2026, seeing milder highs in the 50s and a mix of sun and clouds—the city is shifting into high gear for what forecasters warn will be a major snow event. According to the National Weather Service, a Winter Storm Watch is in effect from Saturday evening through Monday morning, covering the District as well as large swathes of Maryland and Virginia.

Thursday’s mild weather is providing residents and city crews a valuable window to prepare. As reported by 7News, temperatures will fall out of the 40s into the 30s overnight, setting the stage for a dramatic turn. Friday, January 23, will bring near-normal temperatures before an Arctic cold front barrels in over the weekend. Saturday daytime is expected to be dry but bone-chilling, with highs hovering around 20 degrees Fahrenheit—perfect for last-minute shopping or storm prep before the first flakes arrive that evening.

“We’re looking to get more snow than we’ve got in the previous years,” said Warnique West, D.C.’s “Snow Queen” and director of snow operations for the Department of Public Works, in an interview with WTOP. “Right now we’re prepping all of our equipment, making sure that it’s ready. We have notified our staff that we’re going to be here for maybe a few days at a time.”

Forecast models are painting a snowy picture, with a high chance of at least five inches blanketing the area, and double-digit totals possible in some spots. The FOX 5 Weather Team, citing the National Weather Service, warns that snowfall rates could reach one to two inches per hour during the height of the storm, which will begin Saturday evening and intensify overnight. By Sunday, January 25, sleet and freezing rain may mix in—especially south of Route 50 and near Interstate 95—raising the specter of significant ice accumulation in some locations.

The city’s Department of Public Works (DPW) is not taking any chances. Crews have been checking all equipment, ordering brine and salt, and alerting their families that they’ll be working through the weekend, as reported by DC News Now. Starting Thursday night, salt trucks will begin pretreating D.C. roadways to help the snow melt once it starts falling. Brining will continue through Friday, with salting set to ramp up on Saturday. “With the current forecast, what it looks like once it starts snowing, it will just turn into a plowing event before we go back to salting,” West explained. “There’s no reason to put down salt when you’re trying to push snow.”

By Sunday, DPW expects about 300 pieces of equipment to be on the roads, supported by approximately 200 city trucks and 100 contractors. “When you see the plows coming, stay at least 100 feet back,” West advised. She also urged patience: “We’re trying to do the best we can to not just get the streets cleared but see what we can do as far as getting some salt into the alleys, but crews still have to be safe trying to navigate these icy conditions. So, if you could just have patience with us, we’re trying to pick up your trash, recycling and compost.”

For residents, the rush is on to stock up on essentials. Hardware stores like ACE in Glover Park have seen a steady stream of customers grabbing ice melt, salt, scrapers, and snow shovels. “My girlfriend is weather-obsessed. She’s been preparing for this for days; she’s so excited for it,” David Plotz told DC News Now. Others, like Carolina Blanco, were practical: “Salt, a scraper, and also a snow shovel. I don’t think they’re going to last too long with the weather we’re going to have this weekend.”

The broader region is also mobilizing. Maryland Governor Wes Moore declared a state of preparedness ahead of the storm, empowering the state’s Department of Emergency Management to coordinate a rapid response. The Maryland National Guard is prepositioning personnel and specialized vehicles across Western Maryland, Central Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, according to a news release from Moore’s office.

The storm’s impacts are expected to be far-reaching. Travel conditions could deteriorate rapidly Saturday night, with hazardous roads making driving treacherous and potentially causing significant delays. The National Weather Service and the FOX 5 Weather Team caution that visibility could drop to a quarter mile or less during the heaviest snow. The cold will not relent once the snow stops—wind chills in the teens and single digits are expected from Friday evening through the middle of next week, with subzero wind chills possible at times. These frigid conditions could linger, making recovery and cleanup all the more challenging.

There’s also the possibility of school disruptions and delayed commutes on Monday morning, January 26, as the region digs out from what could be a historic snowfall. The Winter Storm Watch, which covers not just the District but also central, northeast, northern, and southern Maryland and parts of Virginia, reflects the widespread nature of the threat.

Officials are urging everyone to cooperate with city crews and to heed all parking and travel restrictions. If the storm escalates to a snow emergency, parking will be prohibited on established emergency routes, and vehicles left there will be towed. Residents are asked to stay off the roads during the storm if possible, and to give plows and salt trucks plenty of space to operate safely.

As the city hunkers down, the message from officials is clear: preparation, patience, and caution will be key to weathering this winter blast. With the first snowflakes just hours away, D.C. and its neighbors are as ready as they can be—hoping for the best, but preparing for a weekend that could be one for the record books.