'Significant' Storm Could Snarl Early Holiday Travel In NoVA: Timing, What To Expect

VIRGINIA — Enjoy the next couple of days of sunshine, Virginians. A late-weekend storm is expected to bring heavy rains and gusty winds to the D.C. region, threatening flooding and snarling early holiday traffic.

Just a week after a strong system hammered much of the East Coast, this new storm will take shape over Virginia and other mid-Atlantic states Sunday night into Monday, according to a recent Accuweather forecast.

The storm will bring strong winds, rain and possible flooding to areas along and east of the Interstate 95 corridor, forecasters said. The interior mid-Atlantic and the Delmarva Peninsula should experience the heaviest rains through Sunday night, according to Accuweather forecasters.

"While there remains some question in terms of the exact track and intensity of this storm, confidence is growing for a significant rain and wind event, especially from the Chesapeake Bay Area to most of southern New England," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said.

"We are facing yet another major storm Sunday, probably arriving late day. Gusty winds and heavy rain should impact the entire area into Monday," according to the Capital Weather Gang.

"Clouds quickly fill in Sunday as the storm starts to lumber up the Atlantic coast. Showers could begin to scatter into the area by afternoon. Highs should hold in the upper 40s to lower 50s. East winds build quickly in the evening with heavy rains likely through the night," the Post said. "Totals with this storm could again end up in the 1-3 inch range. On Monday the storm passes by, and rains begin to taper off. Winds lighten up during the morning but are likely to be howling out of the northwest by the afternoon."

The storm could also have wide-ranging effects on travel. According to Accuweather, Interstates 20, 40, 64, 80, 81, 84 and 95 are among those that could be impacted.

Effects may also be felt at airports across the country with potential delays at big hubs in cities like Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

Here's the forecast for Friday through Monday, according to the National Weather Service:

Friday: Sunny with a high near 55. West wind 6 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. West wind 3 to 6 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Sunday: Rain, mainly after 1pm. High near 56. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Sunday Night: Rain. Low around 48. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Monday: Showers likely, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Chance of precipitation is 60%.