6:00 AM | ***Howling Arctic winds die down today...trouble begins tonight***
Paul Dorian
6-Day DC Forecast
Today
A bitter cold start to the day which will feature thickening clouds, winds can be a bit brisk early in the day, but much calmer conditions are expected this afternoon, highs in the upper 20’s
Tonight
Cloudy, quite cold, snow likely to develop around or shortly after midnight and then it should mix with sleet in the wee hours of the morning and then freezing rain before daybreak, an accumulation of snow and ice on the order of a coating to an inch or so by daybreak, lows in the middle 20’s
Saturday
Cloudy, cold, an early morning wintry mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet will transition to plain rain by mid-day, a coating of ice can form on any snow that fell in the overnight hours early in the morning, temperatures later in the day can climb towards the 50 degree mark with more (plain) rain likely during the afternoon hours and it’ll become quite breezy
Saturday Night
Cloudy, chilly, breezy, occasional showers possible, mid 40’s
Sunday
Cloudy, chilly, more rain is likely which could change briefly to sleet and/or snow early at night, the greatest chance for that potential changeover will be to the north and west of the District, low 50’s for highs early in the day
Monday
Partly sunny, breezy, very cold, low 30’s
Tuesday
Partly sunny, cold, upper 30’s
Wednesday
Mainly sunny, milder, mid 40’s
Discussion
Those howling Arctic winds of yesterday will calm down today as strong high pressure moves right on top of the Mid-Atlantic region. With the high pressure system moving right above us, the pressure gradient will relax and this, in turn, will lead to diminishing winds. This bitter cold, dense Arctic air mass will begin to retreat to the north during the evening hours as the high pressure system shifts off the east coast. Moisture will arrive here later tonight before the Arctic air has a chance to fully retreat; consequently, snow is likely to break out at or shortly after midnight and then mix with sleet in the wee hours of the morning and then freezing rain near daybreak. Around daybreak, a mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet is likely to be coming down in the DC metro region. There can be a snow accumulation of a coating to an inch or so by daybreak and then some icing on top of that during the early morning. The early day wintry mix will then change to all (plain) rain by mid-day and temperatures can actually climb towards the 50 degree mark during the afternoon hours with more (plain) rain likely. The rain should then slacken off somewhat tomorrow night. Another round of rain is going to return for Sunday as low pressure forms along the next Arctic frontal system which will be approaching us from the Midwest. It is possible that the rain changes to sleet and/or snow for a brief time early Sunday night as the next Arctic air mass filters into the region with the best chance for that potential changeover in the northern and western suburbs of the District. Following the passage of this next Arctic frontal system, the beginning of next week promises to very cold for the middle of December. Longer term, there are signs for a warmer weather pattern again as we get to the latter part of December and early part of January.
Meteorologist Paul Dorian
Vencore, Inc.
vencoreweather.com