It’s going to be a long underwear, hat and scarf-wearing kind of day.
“With a gusty wind, highs mainly in the 20s, it will feel more like the single digits and teens,” said Storm Team4 meteorologist Mike Stinneford.
By 8:30 a.m., the National Weather Service reported the temperature at Reagan National Airport had climbed to 19 degrees, but 14 mph winds made it feel like it was 5 degrees, slightly better than at 6 a.m. when the windchill made it feel like it was 4 degrees.
The forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies with winds out of the north at up to 18 mph.
Cold air will remain in place today with highs failing to get out of the 20s across most areas (teens across the higher elevations). Mostly dry conditions expected as an artic high pressure continues to build in from the north. #VAwx #WVwx #MDwx pic.twitter.com/fNjx1pv41N
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) January 21, 2022
“The winds will diminish by late in the day,” Stinneford said.
Between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., the temperature is expected to reach 26, but the windchill will make it feel like it is 15 degrees.
Region not expected to get coming storm
Most of the D.C. region is unlikely to get the storm that will hit the Carolinas and parts of Virginia.
“There is a small chance that Southern Maryland and the Northern Neck of Virginia could get a coating of snow tonight but any significant accumulations will be confined to the Virginia Beach and Norfolk areas,” said Storm Team4 meteorologist Chuck Bell.
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Portions of southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina are under a Winter Storm Warning until 10 a.m. Saturday, with 3 inches to 5 inches of snow expected.
States of emergency have been declared in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia ahead of the latest winter storm system sweeping into the region Thursday and a round snow expected to follow Friday night into Saturday.
COVID-19 event canceled
The cold weather did cancel Loudoun County’s testing event scheduled for Friday at the Philip A. Bolen Memorial Park.
Forecast
Friday: Mostly cloudy. Wind chills Near 15. Highs of 24 to 30. Winds out of the north at 8 to 18 mph.
Friday night: Clearing after midnight but bitter cold. Winds out of the north at 5 to 10 mph. Lows of 12 to 20.
Saturday: Partly to mostly sunny with a light breeze. Winds out of the northwest at 5 to 10 mph. Highs of 28 to 34.
Sunday: Sun and clouds. Still cold with a light breeze. Winds out of the west at 5 to 10 mph. Highs of 30 to 36.
Monday: Partly sunny, cold with a light breeze. Highs of 34 to 40.
