New Snowstorm Forecast For DC, NoVA, With More Snow Possible Early Saturday

VIRGINIA/DC — With two more winter storms in the forecast over the next few days, early 2022 is turning out to be one of the snowiest periods the Washington, D.C., area has experienced in a few years.

After a mild day Wednesday, a cold front moving through Northern Virginia and D.C. early Thursday morning is expected to produce 1 to 2 inches of snow in the area, according to the National Weather Service. Another winter storm is possible for Friday evening into Saturday morning.

On Thursday morning, areas south of Prince William County, including the Fredericksburg area, are expected to receive 1 inch or less of snow.

Even the worst-case scenarios show D.C. and Northern Virginia receiving only 2 inches of snow during Thursday’s storm.

Rain is forecast to begin in the D.C. area after 8 p.m. Wednesday. By 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. Thursday, the rain is expected to change to snow and is forecast to last until 2 p.m. As Thursday progresses, winds could increase to 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph, according to the NWS.

The D.C. area has already had three snowstorms in January but has yet to face any monster snowfalls, or snowmageddons, this winter, like the area experienced a few times in the previous decade.

The 12.1 inches of snow reported so far at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport this January is more than 8 inches ahead of normal for the month. The region needs only 1.6 inches the rest of the winter to reach a seasonal average of 13.7 inches, according to the Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang.

“With two weeks left, this January is already the 19th-snowiest in records dating to 1872,” the Capital Weather Gang reported Monday. “The amount in the first 16 days of the month is fourth most on record.”

Chuck Bell, meteorologist with NBC4, said in the immediate D.C. area, residents should expect no more than an inch or two of snow on Thursday.

By Thursday morning, the rain will change over to a slushy wet snow during the Thursday morning commute. "Slushy roads will definitely slow down travel. Plan to start your day extra early or wait until after 10am," Bell said.

The Virginia Department of Transportation said its trucks will begin treating Interstate 95 this morning as far south as Kings Dominion in Doswell, and will then turn around to treat the northbound lanes of the interstate.

"Drivers should expect delays with the slow moving operations," VDOT said.

Looking ahead, the NWS is predicting another chance of snow, mainly after 8 p.m. on Friday, as temperatures drop to 17 degrees. The chance of light snow continues into Saturday morning before 8 a.m. Current models show only light snow, with little if any accumulation Friday night and Saturday night.

After these two storms, temperatures are expected to remain cold for the remainder of January, with high temperatures staying below 40 degrees.

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

Wednesday night: Rain, mainly after 8pm. Low around 33.

Thursday: Rain before 8 a.m., then snow between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. High near 38. North wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Friday: A slight chance of snow after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 26.

Friday night: A chance of snow, mainly after 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17.

Saturday: A chance of snow before 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 30.

Saturday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 37.

Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33.