Nice disco here from LWX-
By the middle of the week, attention will turn to a potential winter storm approaching from the south and west. Recent trends have been for more separation between a southern stream disturbance (currently located off the Pacific Northwest Coast), and a northern stream disturbance (primarily composed of a shortwave currently moving from east to west along the northern periphery of an upper low currently centered over Manitoba and Saskatchewan). Greater spacing between these features would likely result in less interaction, and later phasing between these two disturbances, leading to a more southern storm track. This trend toward a more suppressed, southern track system started yesterday, continued with the 00z runs last night, and is even more prevalent within incoming 12z guidance. This trend toward a more southern track is leading to a trend down in snowfall totals across much of the area. While it still appears likely that most of the area will see at least some snowfall, a scenario where the northern half of the forecast area sees very little snowfall (nearly all in association with the northern stream system) is a distinct possibility now. That isn`t to say that the threat for a larger storm has gone away, it`s just that probabilities for that occurring have decreased greatly. At the moment, it appears as though southern Maryland currently stands the greatest chance for higher snowfall totals, as they`d be located closer to the southern storm track and eventual deepening coastal low. While the trend has been downward with snowfall totals, that doesn`t mean that there can`t be further shifts in either direction as we move closer to the event. The pattern across North America, as well as the North Pacific and North Atlantic is very complex at the moment, with numerous interactions between different disturbances yet to occur. This lends itself to some lingering uncertainty. Systems with lots of convection in the southern stream (as this one will) also commonly trend northward at short lead times. The upper level pattern to our northeast at the time of the system will likely be very blocked, so that potential for a northward shift back is somewhat limited, but still exists. So while the clear trend at the moment is very much toward a more southern track and lower snow totals, there is still time for things to change.