Snow, Sleet In Forecast For NoVA, DC, Followed By Arctic Blast For Christmas Weekend

VIRGINIA — Forecasters are calling for a wintry mix in Virginia and D.C. on Thursday and Friday after a cold and dry start to the week leading up to the long Christmas weekend.

Mixed precipitation, including wet snow and sleet, is possible early Thursday in parts of Northern Virginia before temperatures rise above freezing and climb into the low-40s. More periods of rain are likely on Friday, as temperatures climb into the 50s, the Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang said.

In the D.C. area, an Arctic front will begin to move into the region Friday night and Saturday morning, with a few snow showers possible in the area, according to the Capital Weather Gang.

"The storm on Thursday and Friday brings mostly rain, but we still can’t rule out a few flakes as it moves in and when it exits," the Capital Weather Gang said Monday.

For Christmas Eve on Saturday and Christmas Day on Sunday, Virginia and D.C. residents should expect dry weather, but very cold and windy conditions. High temperatures will struggle to reach 30, with lows expected in the teens Saturday night, the Capital Weather Gang said.

Meteorologists at AccuWeather said that at this time, some snow or a wintry mix are on the table for the D.C. area on Thursday and Friday.

"The exact track of the storm will dictate which areas receive heavy snow versus heavy rain and the most significant impacts, but people and businesses in the eastern U.S., especially those traveling, should be extra alert and frequently check AccuWeather forecasts this week to stay updated on expected impacts," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said in a statement Monday.

While forecasts are calling for mostly rain in the D.C. area later this week, a massive winter storm is expected to form over the Rockies and upper Plains states over the next two days, with blizzard conditions for millions of people. Holiday travel will begin to feel the effects, and flight delays are likely to ripple out away from the storm as Wednesday turns into Thursday.

NBC4 meteorologists said the next few days will feature quiet weather in the D.C. area that people preparing for Christmas should use to their advantage.

By Thursday and Friday, residents will want to spend as little time as possible outside or running errands, according to NBC4.

"Rain on Friday morning will have a brief window of opportunity to change over to snow before coming to an end Friday evening," NBC4 meteorologists said. "Temperatures will be in the mid 40s Friday morning, fall below freezing not long after sunset, and stay below freezing all weekend."

Here's the latest National Weather Service forecast for Northern Virginia and D.C. for the next few days:

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 40. Northwest wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Northwest wind around 6 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 42. Northwest wind around 6 mph, becoming calm in the afternoon.

Tuesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Calm wind.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.

Wednesday night: Cloudy, with a low around 30.

Thursday: Rain. High near 50. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Thursday night: Rain. Low around 46.

Friday: Rain before 1 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow. High near 48. Breezy.

Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. Breezy.