Winter Weather Advisory Issued For Midweek Storm In VA, DC

Updated at 3:15 p.m.

VIRGINIA — A winter weather advisory has been issued for parts of Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia as a winter storm system heads for the mid-Atlantic, bringing with it cold and a likely mix of freezing rain, sleet and a bit of snow that could cause school delays Thursday morning, forecasters said.

The weather advisory is in effect from 9 p.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday.

"Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning commute," the National Weather Service warned.

Areas under the weather advisory include the District of Columbia, plus Greene, Madison, Orange, Culpeper, Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park.

A mix of light freezing rain, sleet, and snow should begin Wednesday evening. Precipitation mainly becomes a steady freezing rain Wednesday night, the NWS said. Temperatures will warm Thursday morning, transitioning freezing rain over to rain.

Total sleet accumulations up to one inch and ice accumulations up to one tenth of an inch are forecast.

"The next weather maker looms for Wednesday evening into the night which is favoring a wintry mix (freezing rain, sleet, and snow)," the National Weather Service said.

A large storm is expected to take shape by the middle of the week that can bring a variety of impacts to the Eastern half of the U.S., said AccuWeather meteorologists.

"A clash of warm, humid air and cold Arctic air will result in a myriad of impactful weather for millions of Americans this week," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. "Severe thunderstorms, a dangerous ice storm and accumulating snow are all expected between Wednesday and Thursday as a storm races east."

There is a slight chance of snow and sleet before 10 a.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service said, followed by freezing rain and a high of 36 degrees. Freezing rain and sleet are likely before 1 a.m., then freezing rain. Whatever snow or ice accumulates won't last long, with high temperatures expected to warm up to 46 degrees on Thursday.

Precipitation could begin as wet snow or sleet before gradually transitioning to freezing rain and then rain, said The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang. Areas north and west of the Beltway may have an extended period of icy precipitation and slick roads and walkways into Thursday morning. Some school delays are possible.

“Light freezing rain is dangerous as it only takes a little to make the roads really slippery, and people sometimes don’t recognize how slippery it can be,” said Wes Junker, Capital Weather Gang’s winter weather expert.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a temperature falling to around 49 by 5pm. Northwest wind 16 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

Tuesday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 30. North wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Wednesday: A slight chance of snow and sleet before 10am, then a chance of sleet. Cloudy, with a high near 36. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night: Freezing rain and sleet likely before 1am, then freezing rain. Low around 31. Southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New ice accumulation of 0.1 to 0.3 of an inch possible. New sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday: Rain, mainly before 1pm. High near 46. Southwest wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Thursday Night: A chance of rain before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 50.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Saturday: Rain, snow, freezing rain, and sleet likely before 1pm, then rain and sleet likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Saturday Night: Rain and sleet. Low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday: A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.