FORECAST: Sunday rain and snow showers are in the forecast
Dec 14, 2024
We will see an increase in clouds tonight, but it will dry until early Sunday morning. As for temperatures, expect the thermometer to drop into the 20s for most of the area and low 30s for those in D.C. and along the waters.
Sunday morning, a storm system is expected to move in from the west, and with cold air in place to start, it will allow wintry weather to impact the mountains and then slowly move east. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Garrett and Western Allegany counties in western Maryland and Western Mineral County in West Virginia for several inches of snow accumulation, transitioning to a period of freezing rain by Sunday afternoon. The freezing rain or drizzle may persist through early Monday morning, as the warning runs from 7 am Sunday until 7 am Monday. They have also issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Cumberland and Shenandoah Valleys for primarily freezing rain in places like the Potomac Highlands and Blue Ridge. Plain rain is expected east of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the afternoon and for areas below 2000 ft west of the Blue Ridge.
The thinking is that the highest snow and ice totals are expected along the ridges and eastern slopes of the Allegheny Front, where 1-3 inches of snow, sleet, and 0.25 inches of ice are likely. Elsewhere, the advisory areas may see 1-2 inches of snow and sleet, with upward of 0.10 inches of ice mixed into the winter mess. All precipitation will move out of the region late Sunday night and into early Monday morning, except for the higher elevations of Western Maryland.
On the heels of Sunday's system, another storm quickly approaches from the west to bring another of precipitation to the DMV for Monday night into Tuesday morning. This round of weather, however, is expected to be pure rain, as temperatures stay in the 40s for the higher elevations to the 50s around the Beltway. The one thing that appears likely with this second storm is that it will be breezy, resulting in 15-20 mph gusts Tuesday afternoon and evening hours.
The third storm system and associated cold front will move in on Wednesday. This storm will also be rain over snow and ice; however, on the backside of the system, there could be a period of mountain snow from Thursday into Friday. Regarding temperatures this upcoming work week, the thermometer looks to stay above normal until Thursday and Friday, as daytime highs go from the 40s and 50s early next week to the 30s and lower 40s by Friday.
7-Day Forecast:
Tonight: Clouds increase with lows in the upper 20s to lower 30s.
Sunday: Cloudy skies with spotty showers and MTN. Wintry mix. Highs will be in the upper 30s to lower 40s, and lows will be in the 30s and 40s. Winds: E 5-15 mph.
Monday: Morning showers/drizzle, then overcast skies by midday. Rain returns by evening. Highs will be in the upper 40s to mid-50s, and lows will be in the 40s. Winds: S 5-7 mph.
Tuesday: Early sprinkle/shower, then clearing skies and heading into the afternoon. Highs will be in the upper 50s to lower 60s, with lows in the 30s. Winds: SW 3-9 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy to cloudy skies with a chance of scattered rain and MTN. Snow possible. Highs will be in the upper 40s to mid-50s, with lows in the mid-30s to lower 40s. Winds: Winds: SE 3-6 mph.
Thursday: Morning clouds with gradual clearing. Possible MTN. snow showers. It's much colder and breezy. Highs will range from the lower 40s to lower 50s, with overnight lows in the 10s and 20s. Winds: NW 6-15 mph. G: 18-28 mph.
Friday: Partly cloudy skies and less wind. Highs in the 30s to lower 40s, with overnight lows in the upper teens to lower 30s.
Saturday: Variably cloudy. Highs in the 30s.