D.C. is in for another wicked winter weather season this year, according to local forecasters.
"My forecast includes colder-than-average temperatures and average or above-average snowfall," said meteorologist Topper Schutt of WUSA9, D.C.'s CBS affiliate.
Meteorologist Doug Hill of the local ABC station, WJLA, gave a similar forecast.
"Expect as much snow as last year but don't expect as many days with the white stuff," Hill said. "It snowed 26 days last year."
According to the National Weather Service, a total of 40 inches of snow fell at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Va., last winter. The average is a little less than nine inches.
During President's Day weekend, almost 17 inches of snow fell at Reagan, according to the weather service. This storm shut down the D.C. area for three days, closing stores and airports and giving AU students two days off from classes.
"This year, I expect more larger-sized storms, resulting in the same amount of snowfall, but on less days," Hill said.
Two weekends ago it was cold enough to snow, Schutt said.
Both Schutt and Hill said residents should not get nervous about a winter full of snow and bitter cold.
"Long-range forecasts don't tell much about living day-to-day," Schutt said.
Back-to-back years with significantly higher-than-average snowfall occur only once every 25 years, Hill said.
"If this winter turns out to fit that example, we could have one of those back-to-back years," he said.
Since AU students come from all over the country, some have never seen snow. Others are winter weather veterans.
"I am really excited," said freshman Gaby Romero, who is from Texas. "I've never owned a winter coat before and I've never sled-ridden before, but I'm up for the challenge."
Freshman Sereena Hamm said, "Before it snows, it's just not winter. Like the Winter Ball, it's happening without snow. It just isn't the same as Pennsylvania, where there's more wide open spaces."
"I love snow and the cold, especially pelting people with snowballs and rubbing it in their faces," said Courtney Bancroft, a campus minister in training at the Kay Spiritual Life Center. "It's fun stuff"