Winter Storm Headed To DC, NoVA Friday Afternoon Creating Hazardous Conditions

VIRGINIA — The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia starting at 4 p.m. Friday, while a blizzard warning is in effect for the Eastern Shore of Virginia from Friday into Saturday.

Snow accumulations are expected to total 1 to 3 inches in the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia, with slightly higher amounts in the forecast for Fredericksburg and the Northern Neck. The winter weather advisory is in effect through 4 a.m. on Saturday.

Drivers should plan on slippery roads later Friday. “The hazardous conditions could impact the evening commute,” the NWS said.

Snowfall is expected to total 1 to 2 inches from D.C. to western Loudoun County and south into Prince William County and northern Stafford County. The Fredericksburg area and nearby areas to the southeast could receive 2 to 3 inches or more.

Most of the accumulating snow is set to fall after 7 p.m. through early Saturday morning.

For the Eastern Shore of Virginia, precipitation from the coastal storm could start off as light rain Friday afternoon before transitioning to all snow late Friday evening and into Friday night. Together with the blizzard warning for the area, the Eastern Shore is expected to receive 8 to 12 inches of snow.

The storm is forecast to bring 3 to 4 inches of snow to the Norfolk and Virginia Beach areas, according to the National Weather Service.

Areas of New England are in for a blockbuster snowstorm, with some areas possibly receiving a couple feet of snow and coastal areas seeing wind speeds up to 90 mph, according to AccuWeather.

"This is going to be a dangerous, life-threatening storm, which will be a blizzard in some spots, especially in southern New England," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said Friday morning.

On Thursday, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the winter storm.

The state of emergency allows the state to mobilize resources and to deploy people and equipment to assist in response and recovery efforts. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Virginia State Police, Virginia Department of Transportation and other pertinent agencies are mobilizing and preparing for the impact of these storms, the governor's office said.

Dominion Energy said utility crews are on standby in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach area, where the storm is forecast to be the worst, as well as across the state to deal with power outages. The utility company suggested that residents download its app to report power outages and track status updates.

The Virginia Department of Transportation spent most of Thursday pre-treating roads across the state in advance of the winter storm. Motorists should limit nonessential travel beginning Friday afternoon, especially during the evening rush hour and through Saturday morning, when travel will be hazardous, VDOT said.

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

Friday: A chance of snow before 11am, then rain and snow. High near 36. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday night: Snow, mainly before 1am. Low around 20. North wind 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Saturday: Cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 26. Blustery, with a northwest wind 17 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph.

Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 14. Northwest wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32.

Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 21.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.

Monday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.