A powerful winter storm is set to sweep through the nation’s capital, potentially delivering the heaviest snowfall seen since January 2022, or even as far back as 2019.
This looming weather event threatens to disrupt Monday’s planned certification of the 2024 presidential election results.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Washington, D.C., effective from 10:00 PM Sunday until 1:00 AM Tuesday, forecasting heavy mixed precipitation and urging residents to avoid travel during this period.
The storm is expected to commence late Sunday night, intensifying through Monday with snowfall rates reaching 1 to 3 inches per hour.
Total snow and sleet accumulations are anticipated to range between 5 and 10 inches, with isolated areas possibly receiving up to 12 inches.
The severe weather is likely to impact aviation and render roads impassable, posing significant challenges for the Monday morning and evening commutes.
The timing couldn’t be more consequential, with the heaviest snowfall forecasted during the Monday morning commute—the very day Congress is set to certify the presidential election results.
Reports have emerged that several members of Congress have already fled the capital over the weekend, defying advisories to remain in D.C.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), one of President Trump’s staunchest allies, took to social media to lambast her colleagues.
“January 6th at 1:00 pm Congress must certify President Trump’s historic election,” Greene declared in a fiery tweet.
“Washington has a winter storm warning for Jan 5-7th expecting possibly a foot of snow. Many members of Congress left town this weekend even though they were told to stay. I’m here and will walk to the Capitol if I have to.”
Jan 6th at 1:00 pm Congress must certify President Trump’s historic election.
Washington has a winter storm warning for Jan 5-7th expecting possibly a foot of snow.
Many members of congress left town this weekend even though they were told to stay.
I’m here and will walk to… pic.twitter.com/XPPvoWkZiA
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) January 5, 2025
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) wrote on X, “Unless Elon Musk has figured out how to control the weather it looks bad. If you are a Republican member of Congress I’d get to Washington. We have a President Donald Trump to certify.”
Unless @elonmusk has figured out how to control the weather it looks bad. If you are a Republican member of Congress I’d get to Washington. We have a President @realDonaldTrump to certify.
— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) January 5, 2025
Amid growing concerns about the storm’s impact, former Rep. George Santos sought to reassure the public in a statement on social media.
He wrote:
“The storm will NOT affect the certification of the votes tomorrow!” Santos wrote.
“Members were sworn in on Friday and they had the GOP conference meeting yesterday during the conference they were advised NOT to go home… I’ve spoken with about 20 members to check on this and they are all in DC and advised that they have enough people in town to form a quorum. Rest assured the election WILL BE CERTIFIED tomorrow!”
The storm will NOT affect the certification of the votes tomorrow!
Members were sworn in on Friday and they had the GOP conference meeting yesterday during the conference they were advised NOT to go home…
I’ve spoken with about 20 members to check on this and they are all in…
— George Santos (@MrSantosNY) January 5, 2025
