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Yep, your eyes did not deceive you, those were snow flurries Friday morning in some parts of the D.C. area. Here’s what you need to know.
The cold snap came with the coldest air of the season so far, and the biting winds made it seem even chillier. The beautiful snow flurries turned into rain that will continue through the afternoon.
Snow lovers weren’t the only ones marveling at the flakes – the National Zoo’s two new pandas also basked in the first flurries of the season.
❄️ First flakes of the season! Bao Li + Qing Bao experienced their first snowfall in Washington, D.C., this morning. Bao Li ate a carrot and bamboo while watching the flakes fall. After enjoying her apple, Qing Bao ran playfully around her habitat and climbed trees. #DCPandas pic.twitter.com/QL2VLMnGhx
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) November 22, 2024
This is the first time it has snowed before Thanksgiving since 2018, according to 7News First Alert Meteorologist Steve Rudin.
High temperatures are not even reaching 50 degrees Friday, ranging from 38 to 47 degrees. The wind is playing a strong part in that, with 10 to 20 mph winds exacerbated by gusts that could reach over 25 mph.
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7News First Alert Senior Meteorologist Brian van de Graaff says those conditions will lead to an intense weather day to round out the week before Thanksgiving.
“It’s going to be a raw end to the week,” he said. “With winds chills in the 30s in addition clouds, and just a damp setup.”
Rain showers will be hitting the D.C. area along with some light snow showers in the late morning and afternoon. The flurries will not stick in the metro areas, with the ground too warm to stay that frosty, but further out there may be some accumulation.
“Far west, deep in the mountains, they’re talking inches of snow, maybe even light coating up north near the Pennsylvania border,” van de Graaff said.
The bone-chilling weather will dissipate as well, with temperatures slowly climbing throughout the weekend.
“Tomorrow it looks like a little bit better, but still breezy,” van de Graaff said. “Sunday’s probably when we’ll finally get some relief from the chill.”
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