Forecast: Wind & Cold To Whip Washington

The much anticipated (and dreaded?) cold airmass has arrived. While the cold will be pretty brutal today, it will gradually lose some of its punch in the coming days.

TODAY

Mostly sunny, windy and cold. 25-30. Don't let the sunshine fool you. Penetrating cold and a biting wind will combine to make it feel like the teens much of the day. The actual air temperature will struggle to reach 30 with northwest winds of 15-20mph, gusting to between 25-30mph. That won't be pleasant. Overnight, the wind will calm and temperatures will plummet. The north and west suburbs will drop to single digits (5-10) with low teens in the close-in suburbs and downtown.

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY

Sunny and cold. 30-35. After a frigid start, sunshine will help temperatures climb steadily towards freezing. Fortunately, winds will be very light so it will feel considerably warmer than today. Overnight, temperatures drop back down into the teens under clear skies.

Keep reading for a look ahead to the forecast for the start of the work week...

A LOOK AHEAD

For the start of the abbreviated work week Tuesday (for Federal workers, at least), it will be raw with some light snow or rain possible (this doesn't look like a big deal right now). High temperatures should be in the mid to upper 30s.

Sunny and brisk Wednesday, with highs in the upper 30s.

Still no signs of a major winter storm for the region.