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It’s time to prepare for another round of winter weather as snow will be coming back to the D.C. region on Sunday — the eve of Inauguration Day. Here’s what you need to know.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the D.C. metro area, in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday — 2 to 4 inches of snow are expected. An advisory is implemented when weather conditions “pose a significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property,” according to the NWS.
(Courtesy of the National Weather Service)
The D.C. region can expect 1 to 4 inches of snowfall to accumulate Sunday, with flakes falling from the early morning through the evening, according to 7News First Alert Meteorologist Steve Rudin.
“Snowfall rates could approach 1 inch an hour at times,” the NWS said.
Travel could be “very difficult” given the wintery conditions, according to the weather service. Any leftover moisture after the snowfall is expected to freeze Sunday night, when temperatures will drop into the teens.
Meanwhile, the NWS has issued a Winter Storm Warning for areas far north and west of the D.C. metro from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
(Courtesy of the National Weather Service)
The wintry weather is expected to coincide with President-elect Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again Victory Rally,” scheduled to kick off Sunday at 3 p.m. inside Capital One Arena. In addition to snowy travel conditions, D.C. drivers should be aware of downtown road closures related to the rally.
Bitterly cold temperatures will accompany the snow, according to Rudin. A strong cold front overnight Saturday will bring a push of cold air to the region Sunday, with highs only expected to reach the 30s.
It will get colder on the day of President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration with temperatures in the upper teens and lower 20s expected — the lowest inauguration temperatures since 1985. Due to the extreme cold weather, the swearing-in ceremony will take place inside the Capitol Rotunda.
“Cold weather alerts from the National Weather Service are possible” on Monday, according to 7News First Alert Meteorologist Mark Peña.
The cold air will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday as wind chills will put feels-like temperatures in the single digits to lower teens.
7News First Alert Forecast
SATURDAY EVENING: Clearing skies Temperatures: 38-45
Winds: South 5 mph
Mostly cloudy, but dry and seasonable. SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly Cloudy
Lows: 30s
Winds: North 3-8 mph
The first wave of Arctic air arrives tonight and will slowly drop temperatures overnight. Dry conditions are expected until early Sunday morning.SUNDAY: WINTER STORM WARNING NORTH AND WEST OF DC METRO
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY DC METRO
Cloudy, Snow 1 to 4″ Likely
Highs: 30s
Winds: Northwest 8-12 mph
Wintry weather will overspread the Mid-Atlantic with a swath of snow beginning early morning and extending until early evening. Latest trends point to 1-4″ of snow for areas inside and around the beltway, with higher amounts to the north and west. The National Weather Service has posted a winter storm warning for areas north and west of the D.C. metro from 7a.m. until 7 p.m. A winter weather advisory has been added to include the D.C. metro. MLK DAY & INAUGURATION DAY Mostly Sunny, Windy
Highs: 18-23
Wind Chills: 5-12
Winds: Northwest 10-20, Gusts to 35 mph
Cold air won’t be in short supply to start the week. Highs will only reach the upper teens and lower 20s, with feels like readings in the single digits. Cold weather alerts from the National Weather Service are possible.
TUESDAY: Sunny, Very Cold Highs: 18-23
Wind Chills: 5-15
Winds: Northwest 3-8 mph
Dangerously cold air remains trapped across the DMV with highs only around 20 degrees for most neighborhoods. WEDNESDAY: Mostly Sunny, Very Cold Highs: near 20
Wind Chills: 5-15
Winds: Northwest 5-10 mph
Wednesday will be the last day of super cold air as a transition to milder temperatures is set for the end of the week.
Current conditions
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