The chances for the Baltimore region to get some measurable snow this weekend have been increasing this afternoon as forecasters in Sterling, Va. work to sort out the disagreements between their various forecast models.

Officially, the current forecast calls for  a "slight" chance of  snow after midnight Sunday morning. The snow chances bump to 50 percent during the day Sunday, mostly after noon. And they jump again to 60 percent Sunday night and Monday morning. (Sorry kids. It's a holiday anyway. No snow days for you.)

The problem with the forecast is that it's a hedged bet. The computer models are in disagreement, and so forecasters increased their rating of our snow chances as a way to split the difference.

The facts of the case are this: Some models show a developing coastal low off the southeastern coast as the weekend rolls along. With plenty of cold air still in place in the Northeast, that's always cause to think snow. One model sends the storm up the coast, bringing us an increased chance for snow east of the mountains Sunday into Monday. 

But other models don't see it. They predict little or no precipitation from the low, at least for us.

"The diverging solutions add to the uncertainty of this forecast," the Sterling discussion laments. "After much consideration and collaboration, we have decided to increase chances of snow across the [forecast] area ... If [the pro-snow models] are correct some snow accumulation is likely. On the flip side, if the [no-snow models] win out, then little or no snow may occur. We will need to keep a close watch on this system and adjust details as model guidance becomes in better agreement."