Snow Heading to DC: Winter Storm Watches, Warnings Issued

WASHINGTON – The DC area will experience mild temperatures Saturday ahead of snow expected Sunday. Winter storm warnings and watches are in effect from Sunday morning.

DC weather forecast, Saturday, January 18

What we know:

The DC region will see temperatures in the mid-40s, mild for what lies ahead. The day will be mostly cloudy with rain and a chance for a quick hit of wintry mix ending in the afternoon. During the night there is a possibility of some snow, freezing rain and rain, which will bring us into Sunday.

How much snow could DC get?

Big picture:

A weak low pressure wave will develop along an arctic border and very cold arctic air will settle in and set up to give us snow.

Daylight will be reached in the early part of the day and temperatures will drop rapidly through the afternoon and evening.

We should see 2″-4″ of snow for the DC region. Expect higher amounts to the northwest over higher elevations. With this fast-moving system, we don’t expect as much snow as we saw at the beginning of the month.

When does it start snowing in DC?

Timeline:

The snow is expected to start mid-morning sometime between 7.00 and 9.00. It will ease to showers in the early evening hours, sometime between 17.00 and 20.00.

Winter storm warnings and watches

What we know:

ONE winter storm warning is in effect at 7 a.m. Sunday for parts of north central, northern and western Maryland, northern and northwestern Virginia, and panhandle West Virginia. This includes areas such as Hagerstown in Washington County, Western Loudoun, Frederick, MD and Frederick, VA.

The Winter Storm Warning is currently set to expire at 7:00 PM on Sunday. Heavy snow and gusty winds are expected in the warning area with total snow accumulation of up to six inches of snow.

ONE winter storm watch is in effect throughout Sunday for parts of northern, northwestern and western Virginia and eastern West Virginia. In Maryland, NW Montgomery Counties. In Virginia, Eastern Loudoun, Fauquier and northwestern Prince William Counties.

In both the warning and watch areas, the hazardous conditions will affect travel, especially on untreated surfaces. Gusts will affect visibility and can bring down branches.

DC Weather forecast for next week

What’s next:

Next week is expected to be dangerously cold with the possibility of single-digit temperatures.

An air mass that originated in Siberia and crossed the North Pole to get here arrives in the DC region on Monday. Midnight highs in the mid to upper 20s are again likely on Monday, with afternoon temperatures expected to be in the tweens and lower 20s for inauguration festivities.

It will be dry without snow on Monday. By Tuesday morning, widespread single digits with dangerously cold, sub-zero wind chills will settle across the DC region. DC hasn’t seen single-digit lows since December 2022, but will have a shot at it both Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

READ: Trump’s Inauguration Day Parade Moved to Capital One Arena

Cold to influence Trump’s inauguration

Big picture:

President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office indoors due to the freezing temperatures expected during his inauguration ceremonies on Monday, January 20.

The extreme temperatures, cold winds and icy conditions expected from a blast of arctic air and expected snow over the weekend prompted the move. The rotunda is prepared as the inclement weather alternative for each inauguration, the Associated Press reported. A final decision would be up to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies in consultation with Trump.

Temperatures are expected to be well below average when Trump takes the oath of office at noon on Monday, January 20. The cold Arctic air is due to a polar vortex that is expected to send temperatures plummeting for millions across the US

Expected temperatures for the inauguration ceremony at noon on Monday are expected to be the coldest since Reagan’s second inauguration, which was on January 21, 1985.

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