This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-area-forecast-poorly-timed-storm-dumps-rain-and-snow-on-busy-travel-day/2014/11/26/63bb47db-c695-42d7-8250-5c938f489b3a_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| D.C. area forecast: Poorly timed storm dumps rain and snow on busy travel day | D.C. area forecast: Poorly timed storm dumps rain and snow on busy travel day |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| * Winter Weather Advisory immediately north and west of D.C. * * Winter Storm Warning for far northern and western areas * | * Winter Weather Advisory immediately north and west of D.C. * * Winter Storm Warning for far northern and western areas * |
| 7:50 a.m. update: Steady rain continues across the greater D.C. metro area, with a change over to snow reported along and just east of I-81, including Winchester, Stephens City and Front Royal. Still likely all rain locally until around or after approximately 10 a.m., with rain transitioning to snow from northwest to southeast thereafter. Again, best chance of snow accumulating on roadways is north and west of the Beltway, perhaps even limited higher elevations further north and west (e.g., Carroll, Frederick, Loudoun, northern Fauquier counties). | |
| 6:15 a.m. Update: As we indicated last night, it’s going to be some time until we start to see a change over from rain to snow here in the D.C. area. Currently as steady rain falls, temperatures are still near or above 40 in most spots, even as far north and west as Hagerstown and Winchester (see radar, temps and more on our Weather Wall). Short-term modeling shown below suggests that we may not see a change-over to snow (or a rain/snow mix) begin locally until around or after 10 a.m., and even then it may take until around or after noon for D.C./I-95 and points to east to mix with or change to snow. Some areas from D.C./I-95 and east may stay mainly or all rain through the storm. | 6:15 a.m. Update: As we indicated last night, it’s going to be some time until we start to see a change over from rain to snow here in the D.C. area. Currently as steady rain falls, temperatures are still near or above 40 in most spots, even as far north and west as Hagerstown and Winchester (see radar, temps and more on our Weather Wall). Short-term modeling shown below suggests that we may not see a change-over to snow (or a rain/snow mix) begin locally until around or after 10 a.m., and even then it may take until around or after noon for D.C./I-95 and points to east to mix with or change to snow. Some areas from D.C./I-95 and east may stay mainly or all rain through the storm. |
| Meanwhile, even after areas change over to snow, temperatures look to still be in the upper 30s inside the Beltway with mid-30s further north and west, as shown in the forecast for 1 p.m. below. That is why we expect the best chance for road accumulation, and a more disruptive impact late this morning and during the afternoon, to be focused on the colder spots north and west of the Beltway, and perhaps even north and west of Howard, Montgomery, Fairfax and Prince William counties. But to be safe, anyone from D.C./I-95 toward points north and west should assume roads could become slick, even if only briefly, at some point during the afternoon. | Meanwhile, even after areas change over to snow, temperatures look to still be in the upper 30s inside the Beltway with mid-30s further north and west, as shown in the forecast for 1 p.m. below. That is why we expect the best chance for road accumulation, and a more disruptive impact late this morning and during the afternoon, to be focused on the colder spots north and west of the Beltway, and perhaps even north and west of Howard, Montgomery, Fairfax and Prince William counties. But to be safe, anyone from D.C./I-95 toward points north and west should assume roads could become slick, even if only briefly, at some point during the afternoon. |
| From 5 a.m…. | From 5 a.m…. |
| TODAY’S DAILY DIGIT A somewhat subjective rating of the day’s weather, on a scale of 0 to 10. | TODAY’S DAILY DIGIT A somewhat subjective rating of the day’s weather, on a scale of 0 to 10. |
| 3/10: Even the snow lovers among us can’t give too high a score to such a sloppy rain-to-snow travel day before Thanksgiving | 3/10: Even the snow lovers among us can’t give too high a score to such a sloppy rain-to-snow travel day before Thanksgiving |
| EXPRESS FORECAST | EXPRESS FORECAST |
| Today: Rain changing to snow. Temps: Falling into 30s. | Tonight: Snow/rain ends early. Lows: Upper 20s to low 30s. | Tomorrow: Chance of snow showers or flurries. Highs: Near 40 to low 40s. | Today: Rain changing to snow. Temps: Falling into 30s. | Tonight: Snow/rain ends early. Lows: Upper 20s to low 30s. | Tomorrow: Chance of snow showers or flurries. Highs: Near 40 to low 40s. |
| A poorly timed pre-Thanksgiving storm complicates travel today around D.C. and up and down the East Coast, on a day when things aren’t easy even when the weather is nice. Locally, rain changes to snow between mid-morning and early afternoon with some accumulation possible, especially the further north and west you are. The messiness gets out of here by this evening, in time for a cool but calmer Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, ahead of a warming trend this weekend. | A poorly timed pre-Thanksgiving storm complicates travel today around D.C. and up and down the East Coast, on a day when things aren’t easy even when the weather is nice. Locally, rain changes to snow between mid-morning and early afternoon with some accumulation possible, especially the further north and west you are. The messiness gets out of here by this evening, in time for a cool but calmer Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, ahead of a warming trend this weekend. |
| Today (Wednesday): Rain this morning gradually changes to snow from northwest to southeast. Can’t rule out a touch of sleet during the transition. Most of the area from I-95 westward should change to snow or to a back-and-forth mix of rain and snow between mid-morning and early afternoon, although Southern Maryland and locations close to the Chesapeake Bay may stay mainly rain through the day. Early-morning temperatures near 40 fall into the 30s as the morning goes on and stay there through the day. Winds blow from the north at 10-15 mph | Today (Wednesday): Rain this morning gradually changes to snow from northwest to southeast. Can’t rule out a touch of sleet during the transition. Most of the area from I-95 westward should change to snow or to a back-and-forth mix of rain and snow between mid-morning and early afternoon, although Southern Maryland and locations close to the Chesapeake Bay may stay mainly rain through the day. Early-morning temperatures near 40 fall into the 30s as the morning goes on and stay there through the day. Winds blow from the north at 10-15 mph |
| While temperatures in the mid-to-upper 30s should keep many roads in D.C. and to the south and east mainly wet rather than white, some slushy road accumulation cannot be ruled out during any heavier bursts of snow this afternoon, especially in NW D.C., as well as reduced visibilities and some accumulation on grass and elevated surfaces. | While temperatures in the mid-to-upper 30s should keep many roads in D.C. and to the south and east mainly wet rather than white, some slushy road accumulation cannot be ruled out during any heavier bursts of snow this afternoon, especially in NW D.C., as well as reduced visibilities and some accumulation on grass and elevated surfaces. |
| Temperatures falling into the mid-30s could cause more disruptive impacts in our immediate northern and western suburbs (e.g., Montgomery, western Fairfax, and northern Prince William counties), where road accumulation is possible but not a certainty, not to mention those reduced visibilities. Further north and west (e.g., Frederick, Loudoun, and northern Fauquier counties) road accumulation and slick travel is a better bet, especially at elevations above 500 feet. The worst conditions are expected from mid-morning through mid-afternoon. | Temperatures falling into the mid-30s could cause more disruptive impacts in our immediate northern and western suburbs (e.g., Montgomery, western Fairfax, and northern Prince William counties), where road accumulation is possible but not a certainty, not to mention those reduced visibilities. Further north and west (e.g., Frederick, Loudoun, and northern Fauquier counties) road accumulation and slick travel is a better bet, especially at elevations above 500 feet. The worst conditions are expected from mid-morning through mid-afternoon. |
| We should see the snow or rain/snow mix taper and exit the area from southwest to northeast during the afternoon into early evening (approximately 3-7 p.m.). Confidence: Medium | We should see the snow or rain/snow mix taper and exit the area from southwest to northeast during the afternoon into early evening (approximately 3-7 p.m.). Confidence: Medium |
| Tonight: A few snow showers may linger during the evening. Mostly cloudy skies hang around overnight, which should help prevent a super-hard freeze. Still, lows in the upper 20s across our north and west suburbs could be cold enough to freeze up those wet surfaces, with lows near 30 to the low 30s from the District toward points south and east. Winds become light from the northwest. Confidence: Medium-High | Tonight: A few snow showers may linger during the evening. Mostly cloudy skies hang around overnight, which should help prevent a super-hard freeze. Still, lows in the upper 20s across our north and west suburbs could be cold enough to freeze up those wet surfaces, with lows near 30 to the low 30s from the District toward points south and east. Winds become light from the northwest. Confidence: Medium-High |
| For related traffic news, check out Dr. Gridlock. Keep reading for the forecast through the weekend… | For related traffic news, check out Dr. Gridlock. Keep reading for the forecast through the weekend… |
| Tomorrow (Thanksgiving): A disturbance trailing our Wednesday storm could produce a few show showers or flurries during our Thanksgiving Day, but with no additional accumulation expected. Otherwise it’s a partly to mostly cloudy day with highs near 40 to the low 40s. Confidence: Medium-High | Tomorrow (Thanksgiving): A disturbance trailing our Wednesday storm could produce a few show showers or flurries during our Thanksgiving Day, but with no additional accumulation expected. Otherwise it’s a partly to mostly cloudy day with highs near 40 to the low 40s. Confidence: Medium-High |
| SNOW POTENTIAL INDEX A daily assessment of the potential for at least ~1″ of snow in the next week, on a 0-10 scale. | SNOW POTENTIAL INDEX A daily assessment of the potential for at least ~1″ of snow in the next week, on a 0-10 scale. |
| 7/10 (→): Decent chance of at least an inch Wednesday somewhere in D.C. metro area, especially north and west burbs. | 7/10 (→): Decent chance of at least an inch Wednesday somewhere in D.C. metro area, especially north and west burbs. |
| Tomorrow night: Still that chance of an early-to-mid evening snow shower or flurry. Clearing skies late evening into the overnight allow temperatures to dip slightly lower than tonight, as lows bottom in the mid-20s to near 30. Confidence: Medium-High | Tomorrow night: Still that chance of an early-to-mid evening snow shower or flurry. Clearing skies late evening into the overnight allow temperatures to dip slightly lower than tonight, as lows bottom in the mid-20s to near 30. Confidence: Medium-High |
| The weather calms down nicely for the Friday through Sunday period. Temperatures remain rather chilly for Black Friday with highs only in the upper 30s to low 40s, even with mostly sunny skies. Highs should reach more solidly into the 40s on Saturday, before climbing well into the 50s on Sunday. Both weekend days should see partly cloudy skies. Confidence: Medium | The weather calms down nicely for the Friday through Sunday period. Temperatures remain rather chilly for Black Friday with highs only in the upper 30s to low 40s, even with mostly sunny skies. Highs should reach more solidly into the 40s on Saturday, before climbing well into the 50s on Sunday. Both weekend days should see partly cloudy skies. Confidence: Medium |