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Forecast: Rain to end, cold pattern persists
Snow-to-mix risk late Saturday into Sunday
* Wind Advisory N&W | What is winter? | Weather Wall *
* Later: Snow Lover's Crystal Ball and rainfall update *
Today: Scattered showers. Low 50s. | Tonight: Breezy and colder. 30-35. | Tomorrow: Windy and cold. Near 40. | A Look Ahead | Get Express Forecast by E-mail
FORECAST IN DETAIL
Our super active pattern will not relent. Flood-watch worthy rains soak us this morning before the Arctic air floods the region with wind and cold air. Then, just as the Arctic air begins to retreat, another storm approaches bringing the threat of snow for the second straight weekend.
Radar: Latest regional radar shows movement of precipitation over past three hours. Powered by HAMweather. Refresh page to update. Click here or on image to enlarge. Or see radar bigger on our Weather Wall.
Today (Wednesday): Steady rains end early but scattered showers and even an isolated thunderstorm are possible (60% chance) for the rest of the day. Despite the chance of showers, as the day wears on, we should start to see breaks in the clouds with some intervals of sunshine. The heart of the cold air won't arrive until late tonight and tomorrow, so afternoon highs will be kind of mild, reaching the low-to-mid 50s. Confidence: Medium-High
Tonight: Cold air spills into the region from the northwest under mostly clear skies, dropping temperatures most of the way through the 30s. When we factor in winds from the northwest at 15-20 mph, it will feel like the 20s. Confidence: Medium
Keep reading for the forecast through the weekend...
Tomorrow (Thursday): With cold air continuing to pour into the area, temperatures aren't going to rise a lot tomorrow -- even with considerable sunshine. Gusty winds from northwest (at 15-25 mph) will keep coming, with highs only in the upper 30s to around 40. Confidence: Medium-High
Tomorrow Night: Winds will only diminish modestly, but temperatures will tumble under mostly clear skies. Everyone will drop into the 20s, with mid-to-upper 20s downtown dipping to near 20 in the coldest north and west suburbs. Confidence: Medium-High
Mostly sunny and not as windy Friday, but still cold. Highs will range from 35 to 40. Mostly clear overnight with lows near 20 in the colder suburbs to the upper 20s (downtown). Confidence: Medium-High
Current indications are that Saturday will begin on the sunny side, with increasing clouds toward evening. High will likely be in the upper 30s and low 40s. Overnight, clouds lower and thicken with a 50% chance of snow after midnight as low pressure approaches from the south. Lows will be around 30.
Confidence: Low-Medium
Snow is possible Sunday morning, though it may mix with or change to sleet and rain as milder air sneaks into the area. By Sunday afternoon, precipitation should taper with highs 35-40. Confidence: Low
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By
Jason Samenow
| December 9, 2009; 8:00 AM ET
Categories:
Forecasts
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Posted by: bikerjohn | December 9, 2009 7:32 AM | Report abuse
The rain with a bit of sleet was ending as we left Front Royal this morning with 0 to 1/2 inch of ice slush most places. Was 32 when I went to bed last night and 33 when I got up. People coming down the mountain from above 1500 feet had 1/4 inch of ice and plenty of sleet on their cars.
Posted by: eric654 | December 9, 2009 7:37 AM | Report abuse
I thought the last post indicated that the difference between last weekend's storm and the upcoming storm was that there will be more cold air in place. However, I see the forecast has changed to the extent that we may see a change over from snow to a mix Saturday into Sunday; what changed? Finally, any update on the storm mid next week? Thanks!
Posted by: snowlover | December 9, 2009 8:14 AM | Report abuse
Yes....any update on next week's storm? My accuweather.com long range shows cold and sunny which makes me think that the cold air will block the bad weather to our South keeping us high and dry.
Posted by: stinkerflat1 | December 9, 2009 8:18 AM | Report abuse
@stinkerflat1
The verdict is still completely out on middle of next week; models are oscillating between snow, nothing, and rain. Too early to say much about it.
@snowlover
Stay tuned for the SLCB, coming out around 10 a.m. But to give you a short answer, the storm is looking to come in later, just as the cold air is retreating.
Posted by: Jason-CapitalWeatherGang | December 9, 2009 8:21 AM | Report abuse
Any thoughts on driving from Washington to NYC on Sat. morning and back (from NYC) on Sunday afternoon? Will the trip home be awful?
Posted by: cassann981 | December 9, 2009 8:42 AM | Report abuse
@cassann981
No problems Saturday morning. Sunday afternoon, there's a chance it will be snowing in NYC and Jersey ... that would slow you down probably. Not anticipating a crippling event though.
Posted by: Jason-CapitalWeatherGang | December 9, 2009 8:49 AM | Report abuse
Hi Jason - I know I'm asking you to put your "Carnac the Magnificent" turban on... But any chance of a white Christmas in Potomac???
Posted by: someonelikeyou | December 9, 2009 9:20 AM | Report abuse
Ice Storm Video taken this morning.
Temp now at 34.2F. I'm wondering how "warm" we'll get out here before the cold air arrives...
Posted by: spgass1 | December 9, 2009 9:29 AM | Report abuse
My Goodness, I thought the 00z run of the GFS was being cruel after showing me getting a bit of snow @ 12z & 18z. Then I bothered to pull up the 6z run. Honestly, please. No more rain here. I think we're approaching something absurd like 20" in the last 60 days!
Posted by: Registration1982 | December 9, 2009 9:32 AM | Report abuse
Blah... and the 12z runs a repeat of this week's scenario (Low towards Michigan and off the NC coast)...
Posted by: Registration1982 | December 9, 2009 12:05 PM | Report abuse
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West Springfield, as of 7:30am received 1.90"