The Brief
- A potential polar vortex split could bring colder air to the D.C. region later this month.
- Forecasters say it may lead to a brief stretch of below-average temperatures.
- It’s still unclear how far south the cold air will reach or how strong it will be.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Don’t pack the winter coat away just yet. Forecasters say a potential polar vortex split could send colder air into the Washington, D.C. region before the end of March, bringing one last reminder of winter as spring begins to take hold.
What we know about the potential cold blast
Long-range forecast models suggest the polar vortex — a mass of cold air typically locked near the North Pole — could split by the end of March.
If that happens, colder air may shift into parts of the northern U.S., including the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Forecasters with FOX Weather say this setup could bring below-average temperatures to areas like Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia late in the month.
What local meteorologists are saying
While long-range models point to a possible late-month cooldown, FOX 5 DC meteorologists say a warmup is expected in the near term.…