Northern Virginia Weather: Some Rain Breaks In Sight

STERLING, VA—Look for soaking, heavy rain in the Northern Virginia area throughout the weekend with highs near 50 and lows a little above freezing. That's the word from the National Weather Service, which also has issued a flood watch from noon Saturday until 6 a.m. Sunday. There will be, however, a few breaks.

Here's a blunt assessment from the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang regarding timing: "The heaviest rain is expected in two primary rounds, the first Friday evening into Saturday morning, and the second late Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning."

Ultimately, a tad more than a half-inch of rain is needed to break the record for wettest year in Washington—61.33 inches in 1889. So there you go, here's the detailed forecast from the National Weather Service's area bureau in Sterling:

Saturday: Rain. High near 52. Northeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Rain. Low around 43. Northeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 46. North wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

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

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 42.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 44.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Thursday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47.

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