Snow on the way? Still too soon to tell if DC will get late-week winter storm

WASHINGTON - If you've been waiting for winter to wake up and join the party, this might be the moment. The bitter cold you're feeling for your Monday holiday might be a precursor to something even more winter like-- in the form of the potential for a significant snow event later this week.

While you're bundling up to stay warm today, you might also be reading about the potential for a winter storm later this week in the DC region-- specifically Friday into Saturday. Before you continue reading, take note: there are still many question marks surrounding this potential storm, and it's too soon to tell exactly how much snow-- if any, for sure-- we might see locally.

FOX 5's Tucker Barnes shared the European model's prediction for this system on Monday morning. The model's run as of about midnight on Sunday indicates the storm could bring possible snow totals across the Washington area of 1-2 feet-- not inches. Areas north and west, according to this model, would see possible snow totals of up to a foot of snow.

And on Monday afternoon, the National Weather Service upgraded the winter storm potential for the DC area to moderate, which is one level below the highest level. According to NWS' scale, a moderate potential means significant travel delays and closures are possible.

As Barnes explains, the system is still 5 days away and it's far too soon to tell if the scenario indicated by the European model and a few others will actually materialize. He says there could be a rain/snow line that will determine where that sweet spot of heavy snow totals will actually fall-- if it becomes reality at all.

At this point, it's something to watch, and we will have a better idea of what to expect in the next couple of days.

Afternoon Update: Snow Potential continues to rise for DC this Friday night & Saturday.There are actually two...