WASHINGTON, D.C. – Get ready for a snowy start to the holiday weekend in the Washington, D.C. area, as the National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for most of the region on Friday night. The forecast is calling for a quick-hitting, accumulating snowfall that could make roads slippery and hazardous, especially between midnight and 5 a.m., with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour expected. The storm is expected to taper off by mid to late Saturday morning, with improving road conditions on main roads and highways.
The entire region could see snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour under the heaviest snow bands, and visibility could be reduced to less than half a mile at times. Forecasters are even considering the possibility of thundersnow. The storm is expected to bring 3 to 5 inches of snow across the northern and western zones, and 2 to 4 inches around downtown D.C. and to the south and east, with slightly warmer temperatures keeping accumulations down in these areas.
Roads are likely to quickly become snow-covered and slick, making driving hazardous during the early hours of Saturday. Travel disruptions and delays, including at airports, are a possibility, so it’s best to check flight status before heading out. However, by Saturday afternoon, the snow is expected to start melting, with highs well into the 40s on Sunday helping to clear a lot of the snow away.
Despite the storm being categorized as low-end and occurring at a potentially less disruptive time, forecasters are cautioning that slight shifts in the forecast are still possible as new information comes in. The risk of a “bust” or “boom” scenario in terms of snowfall amounts is also being considered, depending on precipitation intensity and temperature fluctuations.
According to Capital Weather Gang’s winter weather expert, the areas likely to be most impacted by heavier snowfall are typically colder locations north and west of the city, while areas that miss out on the heavier bands could see lower accumulations, especially in warmer locations from downtown D.C. to the south and east.
As the region prepares for the snowy start to the weekend, it’s essential for residents to plan for potential travel disruptions and to stay updated on the latest weather advisories as the storm approaches.