Following Monday’s chilly temperatures, which didn’t make it out of the 30s in the D.C. area, forecasters are preparing for a wintry mix of freezing rain and snow in time for Tuesday morning’s commute.
7News First Alert Meteorologist Eileen Whelan said that despite sunny skies, Monday “will be the coldest day of the week,” with high temperatures in the middle 30s.
Whelan said blue skies will make way for an increase in high clouds during the afternoon, with a freezing-cold night to follow and overnight lows falling into the 20s as clouds continue to fill the sky.
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The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Tuesday, from 5 a.m. until 1 p.m., for possible road impacts. Whelan said morning commuters could see “a little snow and freezing rain” when they head out the door.
According to the weather service, up to a few hundredths of an inch of total ice accumulation is possible, as is a dusting of snow, up to one tenth of an inch.
Light freezing rain will begin Tuesday along and west of Route 15 between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., then along the Interstate 95 corridor from between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., the weather service said. Snow could mix in, but the weather service said that’s most likely along and north of Interstate 70.
Freezing rain will transition to rain late Tuesday morning before coming to an end early Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
With it being Christmas Eve, traditionally a busy travel day, Whelan said to make sure to use extra caution on area roads.
Temperatures are expected to reach more seasonable highs, in the middle 40s, by Tuesday afternoon.
Outages:
7News First Alert Forecast
MONDAY: COLD ALERT
Mostly sunny. Highs between 34 and 39.
Winds: NE to SE 5-10 mph
MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, becoming mostly cloudy. Lows between 24 and 30.
Winds: South 5 mph
CHRISTMAS EVE TUESDAY: WINTER ALERT
Morning rain, snow showers, afternoon sunshine. Highs between 40 and 45.
Winds: Light and variable
CHRISTMAS DAY WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny. Highs between 40 and 45.
Winds: North 5-10 mph
Morning temperatures will be in the upper 20s to lower 30s, with afternoon highs back into the 40s.
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