Weather
VA Weather: Bomb Cyclone Threatens Snow, High Winds This Weekend
Forecasters are warning of a potential "bomb cyclone" in Virginia. Here's the latest on the blustery weather possible this weekend.
VIRGINIA — A powerful winter storm front sweeping across the country is expected to turn into what forecasters call a "bomb cyclone" as it approaches the East Coast, bringing rain, strong winds and snow to the Virginia area.
A bomb cyclone, or bombogenesis, is a rapidly strengthening storm that forms when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"Confidence is growing for a significant storm that will bring wide-reaching impacts," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex DaSilva. "Winds across the entire East Coast will be very gusty Saturday and Saturday night."
Find out what's happening in Fairfax Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Temperatures in Virginia will likely be in the 40s and 50s on Friday before the system causes a shift on Saturday, when nighttime lows drop below freezing to the teens and low 20s.
"Much colder air will spread across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic in the wake of this storm system," the National Weather Service reported.
Find out what's happening in Fairfax Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The "bomb cyclone" effect is most often felt during a period of strong winds, which forecasters say is in the cards.
Wind gusts of up to 45 mph are possible across the Washington, D.C. metro region on Saturday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
The blustery conditions will come on the heels of a wintry mix.
Rain will begin around 4 a.m., mix with snow in the afternoon, and may turn to all snow by Saturday night.
"It does appear increasingly likely that there will be accumulating snow in the farther northern and western suburbs of Washington/Baltimore toward the Allegheny Highlands," National Weather Service forecasters said Thursday. "For Washington/Baltimore, there is still a chance for accumulating snow, but confidence decreases a bit."
Want to stay on top of the latest weather developments? Get news alerts from Patch.
The weather service reports it will "monitor closely, because any slight change in the track of the low or timing of the cold air will have a significant impact on the potential for wintry precipitation."
Here are the latest forecasts for the Washington, D.C. metro region from the National Weather Service:
Thursday: Overcast, with a high near 5o and low around 36.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61 and low around 44.
Saturday: High near 47 with a low of 21. Rain before 10 a.m. and then switching to rain and now between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. After 4 p.m., there will be a chance of snow. It will be breezy with the a south wind 8 to 13 mph becoming northwest 19 to 24 mph in the morning. Wind gusts could come as high as 46 mph. There will be a 100 percent chance of precipitation.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 44 and a low around 31.
Monday: Mostly clear, with a high near 60
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53 and low around 36 degrees.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60 and low around 43. There will be a slight chance of rain in the evening, mainly after 1 a.m.
Saturday: High near 46 and low of 20 degrees. Breezy with rain and snow between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m, switching over to snow. The wind will come from the northwest at 8 to 13 mph, increasing in the afternoon to 19 to 24 mph. Wind gusts could be as much as 47 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 44 and low around 31.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 60.
Thursday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 34.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 63 and low around 43. In the afternoon, a calm wind will come from the south 5 to 8 mph. Rain will begin after 2 a.m.
Saturday: Rain will come before 11 a.m., followed by a mix of rain and snow between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Then it will switch over to snow. Breezy, with a Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon. Gusts as high as 43 mph are possible. There will be a chance of rain, mainly before 8 p.m.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 46 and a low of about 29.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 61 and low around 41.
Thursday: Partly cloudy into the evening, with a high near 48 and low around 43.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60 and low around 39. Rain expected around 1 a.m.
Saturday: Rain before 10 a.m., followed by a mix of rain and snow until 1 p.m. It will then switch over to snow. High near 42 and a low near 39. Wind will increase throughout the day, starting as a Northwest wind 8 to 13 p.m. and then becoming 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Wind gusts of 46 mph are possible.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 43 and a low around 28.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.
Thursday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 53 and low near 35.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 63 and low around 47. A calm breeze of 5 to 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Saturday: High near 50 and low of 20. Rain before 1 p.m., then rain and snow from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., then a chance of snow after 4 p.m. Breezy, with a south wind of 7 to 12 mph increasing to 18 to 23 mph in the morning. Wind gusts of up to 43 mph are possible. A chance of snow before 7 p.m.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 47 and low around 31.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
