Nearly a foot of snow and sleet will coat the D.C. region this weekend. But it won’t be a winter wonderland.
A cold weather advisory is in effect until 10 a.m. Saturday. Temperatures for Saturday’s early morning hours won’t climb out of the 20s by much. But, the day starts dry, giving area residents enough time to finish any pre-storm preparations or last-minute grocery shopping.
Bone-chilling temperatures will stick around for the remainder of the day, with precipitation picking up in the late afternoon into the evening.
D.C., Maryland and Virginia have declared states of emergencies to better prepare their jurisdictions with state and federal resources.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told WTOP on Friday that the storm will likely reach “every single part of the state of Maryland.”
“There’s nothing I would have loved more after this storm than to have a 50-degree day, because then everything would melt. … That’s not what’s going to happen,” he said.
With an Arctic mass moving southeast across North America, extremely cold temperatures will settle throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Make sure to layer up and keep your gloves handy.
Looking to the big snowstorm
Overnight into Sunday, the National Weather Service said, “Given how cold the air mass is below the warm nose, (there’s) some question as to how much freezing rain there is, versus those droplets refreezing in the cold layer back into sleet.”
Sunday is when things get hairy — moderate to heavy amounts of snow will start pre-dawn and through the morning. Heavy morning snow and a mix of freezing rain and sleet moves north, making the roads hard to traverse.
This system will be high impact — with potential snowfall totals in the 5 to 10 inch range or more for the immediate D.C. metro area. The National Weather Service reports that some areas could see up to 14 inches of snow and sleet accumulations, with ice buildup between one and two tenths of an inch.
Jaw-chattering temperatures in the teens could freeze and compact the snow, making it stick around longer than the D.C. area is used to.
A winter storm warning is in effect for most of the region until 4 a.m. Monday. The National Weather Service forecast the frigid temperatures will last through the beginning of next week, with more snow on the horizon for next weekend.
Power outages and dangerous roads are entirely possible, so stay up to date on regional notices and stay indoors as much as possible.
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FORECAST
SATURDAY: COLD ALERT
Cloudy, Late Evening Snow
Highs: near 20
Winds: North 5-10 mph
As of now, Saturday daytime looks dry but very cold, with highs around 20 degrees. That should give time to wrap up any pre-storm prep or last-minute shopping. The first flakes may show up Saturday evening, then snow becomes steadier and heavier overnight. If you’re heading out, travel conditions could go downhill pretty quickly.
SUNDAY: WINTER ALERT
Snow, Moderate to Heavy at Times
Sleet Possible
Highs: 20s
Winds: North 5-10 mph
A significant winter storm is set to bring measurable snow to much of the D.C. area — and it’s going to stay cold, with highs in the 20s. A winter storm warning will be in effect for much of the day, and latest forecast trends continue to highlight a thump of moderate to heavy snow pre-dawn Sunday through mid-morning, which could quickly create dangerous travel. There are signs a push milder air aloft brings increasing chances snow mixes with sleet and freezing rain later Sunday. Right now, freezing rain looks most problematic across Southern Maryland, while there’s a higher probability the storm stays all snow across far Western Maryland. Regardless of the exact mix line, this system will be high impact — with potential snowfall totals in the 5 to 10 inch range or more for the immediate metro area, plus the possibility of some sleet and ice accumulation. The First Alert Weather team will be tracking this closely over the next few days as the snow totals and mixing potential come into sharper focus.
MONDAY AND TUESDAY:
Mostly Sunny
Highs: 20-25
Winds: Northwest 10-20 mph
Sunshine returns, however; cold afternoon highs stay in the 20s.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
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