Arctic Air To Move Into DC, NoVA After Rain Leaves Region

VIRGINIA/DC — Forecasters are calling for rain throughout most of Thursday in Washington, D.C. and Virginia, with high temperatures in the mid-50s.

The rain will likely wash away all the remaining patches of snow in the region. The heaviest rain is expected late Thursday night.

Colder air is expected to begin moving into the area late Friday morning, causing the rain to change to freezing rain or sleet in areas of west of the Beltway, according to forecasters.

The switch to freezing rain or sleet is unlikely to cause hazardous driving conditions because road temperatures will be too warm for accumulation, according to the Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang.

Before the cold air moves in, areas of moderate to heavy rain will bring an inch or more to D.C. and Northern Virginia.

By Friday night, some snow flurries could be in the area as low temperatures dip into the upper teens to low 20s.

When the immediate D.C. area begins to get cold enough on Friday to produce a combination of sleet and ice, "we're going to be running out of moisture," NBC4 meteorologist Chuck Bell said.

The precipitation is forecast to end Friday evening as the cold air moves in. Icy patches could create slick roads and sidewalks Saturday. Saturday will be cold, with temperatures in the 20s to low 30s and daytime wind chills around 15 to 20, Bell reported.

While the western suburbs of Virginia are not under a watch, a winter weather advisory has been issued for portions of northern Maryland and eastern West Virginia, including Frederick and Hagerstown, Maryland, and Martinsburg, West Virginia, from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.

Here's the NWS forecast for D.C. and Northern Virginia over the next several days:

Thursday night: Rain. Low around 45. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain. Temperature falling to around 36 by 3pm. Northwest wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday night: Rain likely before 8 p.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Northwest wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 33. Breezy, with a northwest wind 13 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 21.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 38.

Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.