Your new favorite newsletter's launch, aptly delayed by snow

As a forecaster, journalist and certified weather freak (there's a badge, trust me), a big part of my job is analyzing the playing field of global weather and related climate change stories to decide which ones to spend more time on.

In this every-weekday newsletter, I'm going to bring that directly to you.

Preamble

I planned to kick this off the first Monday of 2025, even though it was Jan. 6 with its various connotations. Then the biggest snowstorm in years hit D.C. the same day and other related work got in the way.

Take that, global warming!

Wait a few (and check these stories)

“If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes.” -Mark Twain

• California fire weather. A huge blaze broke out near the coast around Los Angeles on Tuesday. Others erupted Tuesday night amid a Particularly Dangerous Situation fire weather event. Fanned by wind gusts of 80 to 100 mph, the Pacific Palisades fire burned to the shore, causing major evacuations while destroying numerous homes and businesses. It’s the wet season on the West Coast, but southern California has seen almost no precipitation, although just 180 miles northeast of Santa Monica, Death Valley managed record rainfall Tuesday.

• Southern snow and ice. Driven by the same dip in the jet stream involved in the California fires, surface low pressure will deliver snow and ice to a zone running from New Mexico and west Texas to the southern Appalachian region through the rest of the work week. Winter storm warnings are in place for Little Rock and much of Arkansas, where half a foot or more of snow could fall. Winter storm watches include Dallas and Atlanta as freezing rain threatens.

• More East Cost snow? There have been rumors of big snowstorms this weekend for about two weeks. Rather than intensifying and turning northward up the East Coast, the southern storm looks to head out to sea. The best odds of snow east of the Appalachians are from North Carolina to perhaps the D.C. region. It shouldn’t be a lot.

In the forecast

While my comment about global warming being in tatters because of snow in D.C. was a sarcasm, I would imagine it will be an oft-shared thought in certain circles as the state funeral for former president Jimmy Carter plays out.

Both Wednesday and Thursday should try to remain below freezing in the nation’s capital.

Forecast verification

Most of these will not have a forecast and a forecast verification, but they’ll both make occasional appearances.

I do have to pause and give myself props on the horrid D.C. winter snowfall forecast I had in the Capital Weather Gang outlook. I went with 3.4 inches FOR THE WHOLE SEASON. After 7.2 inches fell Monday, I am out of the running. At least I can root for the stuff now.

Wildcard Wednesday

In theory, there will be a section each workday (Mon.-Fri.) with some sort of silly alliteration like above. Some days will solely contain links and commentary, and others will feature special data.

I'll keep it short, as always. The Weather Retort is part of a larger project I am spinning up that will offer focused, informed, and personalized weather and climate data for you and/or your business.

Top image from video taken by Mark Viniello of the Palisades Fire.