Snow Chances Increase This Week In NoVA: Latest Timing, Forecast

VIRGINIA — The chances for snow in the Washington, D.C., region increased on Tuesday as a strong cold front is expected to bring a combination of rain showers and snowflakes to the region later this week.

Below-normal temperatures will persist through much of the week while the front is forecast to push through Northern Virginia late Wednesday into Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

As clouds increase on Wednesday, snow is expected to fall in the Alleghenies starting in the evening, while a mix of rain and snow showers could reach the D.C. region early Thursday.

According to the NWS, the metro could see rain and snow showers between 1-4 a.m., then a chance of snow showers after 4 a.m. The chance of precipitation is 50 percent. On Thursday, snow showers are possible before 1 p.m.

Despite snow in the forecast, little to no accumulation is expected, forecasters said.

"Cloudy morning skies should shift to partly to mostly sunny by Thursday afternoon," the Capital Weather Gang said in its latest forecast. "Thursday night will be mostly clear and cold with lows in the 20s and wind chills in the single digits and teens."

For now, Virginians should keep out the winter coats until temperatures warm slightly this weekend.

"Our instant winter will last through the end of the week before we have any chance to get back above 50 degrees," NBC Washington meteorologist Chuck Bell said Tuesday. "Your heaviest winter coats will be needed all the way into the weekend."

Here's a look at the latest NWS forecast for the D.C. area:

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 24. West wind 3 to 8 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Light southwest wind becoming south 9 to 14 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph.

Wednesday Night: A chance of snow showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday: A chance of snow showers before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. Breezy, with a west wind 16 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 39.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 52.