Winter storm watch for D.C. area Thursday and Thursday night Posted at 11:42 AM ET, 01/16/2013 Area under winter storm watch is covered in blue. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for much of the Washington, D.C. area Thursday and Thursday night for the potential for more than 5 inches of snow. Our opinion is that this is premature and overdone, and that current available information does not support this forecast. 5 or more inches of snow is not impossible from this event, but is very unlikely - less than a 10 percent possibility. We would not have issued this watch - although we do think there is a possibility of accumulating snow - 1 to 3 inches perhaps being most likely. We would only give a 10 percent chance of 5 inches or more snow from this system. We will have more details shortly. Our detailed storm update posted at 12:45 p.m.: A possible tricky snow situation for Thursday's evening rush hour around Washington, D.C.