Storms Bring 2 Chances Of Snow To VA This Week

Another taste of winter weather could be on tap for the Washington, D.C. region this week, as a system could bring two chances of snow later in the week, according to forecasters. Some western counties saw light snowfall Saturday, while over an inch of rain soaked Dulles Airport in Northern Virginia.

The first storm will arrive at some point on Wednesday, as a coastal storm develops and brings rain and snow to the region.

The strength and nature of the storm remain highly variable, forecasters warn, and the position of the jet stream will determine whether the region gets a little rain, a dusting of snow, or a significant storm.

"A storm that tracks farther east would likely head out to sea, bringing snow showers to parts of the interior Northeast and mid-Atlantic states," Accuweather notes. "In another scenario, a storm that tracks closer to the coast could spread snow across much of the mid-Atlantic and southeastern New England late in the week."

The National Weather Service predicts rain will fall in DC and Northern Virginia Wednesday, possibly mixing with snow overnight into early Thursday morning.

The amount of cold air and moisture available after the first storm will further determine how the next front develops, forecasters said.

The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang says the amount of snow possible on Thursday is diminishing, but there is a chance a second storm system will produce some snow on Saturday.

"Somewhat colder than normal weather dominates Friday through Sunday. It could climb to near 40 on Saturday but snow or rain showers are possible as another cold front passes by, especially at night. … Watching the possibility of snow showers Thursday, but the storm will probably form too far to the northeast for anything substantial. There’s another chance of snow showers late Saturday."

Because of the high variability, forecasters have not yet released predictions of potential accumulation totals. There is also a possibility that the region gets no snow at all, they said.

After a midweek high in the low 50s, overnight lows plunge into the upper teens to low 20s for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, the NWS said.

Here's the latest Northern Virginia forecast from the National Weather Service:

Monday Afternoon

Sunny, with a high near 45. Southwest wind around 7 mph.

Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 50. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Southwest wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Wednesday
A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 50. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night
Rain likely before 1am, then rain and snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday
Snow likely before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 34. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 33.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 41.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Sunday
Partly sunny, with a high near 33.