Polar Vortex Could Bring Snow, Freezing Rain To NoVA This Week: See Timing, Forecast

A blast of Arctic air from the north could interact with a storm system to the south, potentially bringing snow and freezing rain to Northern Virginia later this week, according to the latest forecasts.

Rain was falling across much of the area on Tuesday and was expected to taper off by mid-afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Virginians can expect cold and dry conditions on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by a new winter storm that could threaten the region on Friday.

An Arctic blast of air, tied with a shift in the polar vortex, is expected to clash with a storm over the southern United States. How the two systems interact will determine the extent of accumulating snow and a slippery mixture of snow, ice and rain versus just rain from Friday night to Sunday in the eastern part of the nation, AccuWeather forecasters said Tuesday.

"Should the cold air push too forcibly into the Northeast late in the week, the storm will escape out to sea with mostly rain for the Southeast and perhaps a narrow zone of snow, ice and rain or snow on its northern edge," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.

Rayno continued, "However, should the cold air sit back just a bit in the Northeast and let the storm strengthen as it nears the Atlantic coast, it could turn into a heavy snow accumulation from the southern Appalachians and Piedmont all the way to the interior mid-Atlantic and much of New England."

While there will be adequate cold air in place for Northern Virginia to see snow, The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said models are divided as to how much moisture will reach the area. Some suggest the system will stay too far south and east to give us accumulating snow. However, other models show the potential for a dusting to a few inches.

"We gently lean toward at least a little snow making it into parts of the region but, as we’re right along the edge, confidence is low," the Capital Weather Gang said.

If it snows, Northern Virginia will likely see precipitation Friday morning into the evening, forecasters said.

Here's a detailed look at the National Weather Service forecast for Northern Virginia:

Tuesday: Rain, mainly before 3pm. Patchy fog before 4pm. High near 41. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Rain, mainly before 3pm. Patchy fog before 4pm. High near 41. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 42. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25. Calm wind.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Light northwest wind increasing to 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Friday: A chance of snow after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 35. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: A chance of snow and freezing rain before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 43.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 41.