Northern Virginia Weather: Nice Until Later In Week

STERLING, VA—A pleasantly moderate Christmas Day set the tone for what's expected in the Northern Virginia area for the next couple of days, according to the National Weather Service and other area forecasting outlets.

Wednesday is expected to be clear and crisp, with highs in the upper 40s, after which, predicts the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang, "clouds sneak back Thursday, and then some heavier rain potential arrives Thursday night into Friday. We should clear this next mess out just in time for the weekend."

So there you go. Here's the detailed forecast from the National Weather Service's local bureau in Sterling:

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 46. Light and variable wind.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31. Light and variable wind.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 7 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night: Periods of rain. Low around 41. Southeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday: Periods of rain. High near 59. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.

Saturday Night: A chance of rain before 1am, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Monday: A chance of rain and snow. Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday Night: A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

New Year's Day: A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Image via National Weather Service