Expect periods of “heavy” snow Sunday with freezing temperatures overnight

On January 20, 2025By Littum

Winter weather is back on Sunday as afternoon snow that could be “heavy” at times moves into the DC region.

Uniformed Secret Service officers stand guard in the snow outside the White House in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2025, a day before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)(AFP via Getty Images/JIM WATSON)

Listen live to WTOP online and on 103.5 FM for traffic and weather updates on the 8’s.

It is snow joke: White substance coated parts of DC area Sunday.

A few showers are expected to fall inside the ring road on Sunday evening.

The problem is that the wet weather could freeze roads overnight, making for a potentially slippery start to Inauguration Day in the nation’s capital.

Here’s what you need to know.

Suburbs north and west of DC are seeing the heaviest snowfall as the wintry weather system moves east, according to the National Weather Service.

Between 3 and 6 inches of snow could fall across the northern suburbs, with 1 to 4 inches across the metro area, according to WTOP meteorologist Mike Stinneford.

“Only light accumulations over the southern suburbs where the snow may remain mixed with rain. The rainfall will end tonight,” he said.

The snow will end east of the mountains, the NWS said.

The heaviest snowfall was expected from 3 to 6 p.m., and the precipitation moved out of the region late Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service.

7News First Alert Weather says they are actively monitoring this snow event and dangerously cold air as snowfall begins this Sunday from morning to late evening. (Courtesy 7News/WJLA)

A drop in temperatures could make conditions slippery overnight and into Monday.

“The skies will clear overnight and all slush and standing water will freeze as temperatures drop well below freezing. Monday will be a windy and bitterly cold day,” Stinneford said.

The DC region can expect 1 to 4 inches of snowfall on Sunday.

Charlie Gischlar, with the Maryland State Highway Administration, said there was still a lot of residual salt left on the roadways, especially out in western Maryland because they’ve been in winter operation on and off for the past few weeks.

But, he noted, they have been “monitoring this very closely.”

Since Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the incoming holiday may keep some drivers off the roads.

But: “Even after the rainfall stops, because the bitter cold will follow immediately, we will continue to keep crews out and salt any icy spots.”

As for Sunday, the NWS has issued a winter storm warning for areas far north and west of the D.C. metro area until 8 p.m.

7News First Alert Meteorologist Veronica Johnson predicted a very cold stretch of days ahead of snowfall Sunday. (Courtesy 7News/WJLA)

It will be cold during President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration, with temperatures in the upper teens and lower 20s expected—the lowest Inauguration Day temperatures since 1985. Due to the extreme cold weather, the inauguration ceremony will take place inside the Capitol Rotunda.

The cold air will continue Tuesday and Wednesday as chills will put feel-like temperatures in the single digits to lower teens.

“With this cold weather, there could be a lot more water main breaks throughout the region,” WTOP meteorologist Chad Merrill said, adding that water will turn to ice due to the cold weather.

SUNDAY EVENING:
The snow ends
Getting cold and windy
Temp: 25-32; Wind chill: Teenagers
Wind: Northwest 10-15 mph; Wind gust: 30 km/h
The snow will taper off from west to east by 9pm and it will be cold and windy. Watch out for icy spots on roads and pavements.

SUNDAY EVENING:
Mainly clear, cold
Lower: 15-20; Wind chill: 5-15
Wind: Northwest 10-20 mph
Skies will continue to clear as temperatures drop rapidly. Flash freezing of rain/snow from earlier can cause icy conditions, especially high roads and bridges.

MLK DAY & INAUGURATION DAY:
Mostly sunny, windy
Highlights: 18-23; Wind chill: 5-10
Wind: Northwest 10-20, gust: 35 mph
Expect plenty of sunshine, but it won’t help warm us up much. Temperatures will struggle to get out of the teens and low 20s, with wind chills near zero and in the single digits. Cold weather warnings from the National Weather Service are possible.

TUESDAY:
Mostly cloudy, very cold
Highlights: 18-23; Wind chill: 5-15
Wind: Northwest 3-8 mph
Cloudier skies will keep temperatures locked in the teens and 20s Tuesday afternoon with chills between 5 and 15 degrees.

WEDNESDAY:
Mostly sunny, very cold
Heights: near 20; Wind chill: 5-15
Wind: Northwest 5-10 mph
Wednesday will be the last of the super cold air, and will also be the coldest day of the week. Temperatures will start out in the single digits and barely climb out of the teens, with sub-zero morning chills only rising into the single digits.

Extended Outlook: Temperatures will be higher next weekend into the mid to upper 40s. The end of January and the first half of February does not look so cold.
Current relationship

WTOP’s Valerie Bonk contributed to this report.

Get the latest news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.