A wet, mild start will affect much of the region today, with rain and temperatures in the 40s and 50s. The best natural-snow potential arrives in the higher mountains Thursday night through Saturday, especially at Snowshoe, Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain, Canaan Valley Resort, Timberline, and Wisp, where rain changes to snow and blustery conditions are possible. Snowshoe stands out with highs mainly in the 20s and 30s and lows in the 20s, while lower elevations see more rain or mixed precipitation.
Farther east, the Poconos and northern Pennsylvania may see rain and snow, but warmer daytime temperatures will limit natural accumulation. Areas near Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia generally stay too mild for meaningful natural snow, though Friday-night lows near or below freezing could offer potential snowmaking temperatures in the colder spots. The higher mountains remain cold through the weekend, with additional snow showers possible, while eastern areas turn drier but stay seasonably cool.
Weather Fact of the Day
At very high elevations, snow can fall from a cloudless-looking sky as **diamond dust** -- tiny ice crystals that form directly from water vapor in extremely cold, nearly saturated air. In Antarctica and the Arctic, these crystals can create halos and shimmering light pillars around the sun or lamps, even though no conventional snow cloud is overhead.
DCSki regional outlook based on National Weather Service forecasts for Mid-Atlantic ski areas.
