FORECAST: Sunday snow, cold first half of week
Jan 18, 2025
A mix of sun, clouds, and frigid temperatures will be the theme for MLK Day. Sustained winds between 15-25 mph will make wind chills in the single digits during the day and -10 to -20 degrees across the mountains. Monday night, widespread negative wind chills will be felt across the mountains, maintaining the Excessive Cold Watch for the Alleghenies from late Sunday night through Thursday morning.
It will feel bitterly cold on Tuesday and Wednesday, as the thermometer will be hard-pressed to get out of the teens and mid-20s, with single digits in the mountains!! While winds are expected to lighten as high pressure builds in, it won't take much to bring apparent temperatures to near or below zero Tuesday night for much of the area. An Extreme Cold Watch remains in effect through Thursday morning for the Alleghenies, so please bundle up as best you can if you must be outside at any time.
While the cold is the main story, there is also the potential for snow is late in the week along the coast, but for now, most long-range models indicate that a late-week southern storm system would stay off our coast. Because it is still five days out, we'll watch it closely in the DC News Now weather department. If there is a silver lining to the long-range forecast, temperatures are expected to warm slightly and hold in the 30s late next week.
7-Day Forecast:
Sunday (DMV First Warn Day): Mostly cloudy skies with snow and a wintry mix with breezy conditions. Highs will be in the 30s, and lows will be in the teens. Winds: N 7-13 mph, G: 15-20 mph.
MLK/Inauguration Day (DMV First Warn Day): Mostly sunny skies with windy and cold conditions. Highs will be in the teens and 20s, with lows in the teens. Winds: NW 13-18 mph, G: 25-30 mph.
Tuesday (DMV First Warn Day): Partly cloudy skies and cold. Highs will be in the 20s and lows in the single digits. Winds: E 2-6 mph.
Wednesday (DMV First Warn Day): Partly cloudy skies with a slight chance of isolated AM snowflakes. Highs will be in the teens to 20s, with lows in the single digits. Winds: NW 2-8 mph.
Thursday: Partly cloudy skies with highs in the upper 20s to lower 30s with lows in the teens.
Friday: Partly cloudy skies with highs in the low to mid-30s, with overnight lows in the upper teens to mid-20s.
Saturday: Partly cloudy skies with highs in the upper 30s, with overnight lows in the 20s.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy skies with highs in the upper 30s