VA Storm: Rain, Burst Of Snow As Region Prepares For Frigid Christmas Weekend

VIRGINIA — Forecasters anticipate the rain falling across most of Northern Virginia Friday morning will turn into a quick burst of snow in some areas later in the morning as frigid air moves into the region, leading officials to caution drivers about icy spots quickly popping up.

Complicating the wild weather are power outages across the state caused by strong winds, with about 69,796 Virginia customers in the dark Friday morning, according to PowerOutage.US.

Residents leaving home Friday morning, who won't return until the evening, should bring their warmest winter layers as temperatures are expected to plunge by 30 degrees in the afternoon, according to the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang.

Northern Virginia will be under both a wind advisory Friday morning and a wind chill advisory Friday afternoon, the National Weather Service said.

The rain showers Thursday morning may be accompanied by thunder before changing to snow by late morning. Some areas may get a dusting. Drivers should keep an eye out for wet spots that may flash-freeze as skies trend clearer in the afternoon, the Capital Weather Gang said.

Current morning temperatures started Friday morning in the low 40s. By 1 p.m., temperatures in Northern Virginia are expected to plunge into the teens and 20s, according to the NWS.

READ ALSO: How To Keep Your Pipes From Freezing As VA Wind Chill Drops To 4 Below Zero

Transportation officials in Virginia say they are monitoring the weather and sending crews to respond to the expected icy conditions. They recommend travelers keep an emergency kit in their cars, plus travel with fully-charged phones in case of a breakdown or emergency.

"It's all downhill from here. Temperatures and wind chills will be nosediving over the next few hours," NBC4 meteorologist Chuck Bell said around 7 a.m. Friday. "Make sure your pipes, pets and people are all protected from the cold. The most dangerous time to travel will be from sunset this evening until Saturday morning."

VDOT is advising residents to stay home on Friday unless travel is essential. If travel is necessary, residents should check http://511Virginia.org before they leave, plan for extra travel time, slow down, brake lightly, increase their following distance and do not pass or tail plows.

Motorists should also watch out for black ice, VDOT said.

The NWS issued its wind chill advisory from 4 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday for Northern Virginia, with wind chills as low as 10 below zero possible.

Here is the National Weather Service's D.C. area weather forecast for the next few days.

Friday: Showers, mainly before 10am. Temperature falling to around 16 by 5 p.m. Wind chill values as low as -1. Breezy, with a south wind 17 to 24 mph becoming west in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 48 mph.

Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 9. Wind chill values as low as -6. West wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 22. Wind chill values as low as -5. West wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 16. West wind 7 to 9 mph.

Christmas Day: Sunny, with a high near 28. West wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 17.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 31.

Monday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.