NoVA, DC Weather: Winter Storm Watch Starting Wednesday Night

WASHINGTON, DC — The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for all of Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia, starting late Wednesday night and continuing through Thursday night.

Forecasters are calling for heavy wintry precipitation, with total snow accumulations of 5 or more inches in parts of the region and total ice accumulations of a quarter inch or more.

Inside the Beltway, total snowfall is expected to be 3 to 4 inches, while western Loudoun County could get as much as 8 inches, according to the weather service. The Fredericksburg area is forecast to receive 2 to 3 inches of snow.

"Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice," the NWS said. "Travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the [Thursday] morning or evening commute."

The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said the storm could be the area's highest-impact storm of the winter so far.

"Substantial amounts of snow and/or ice are likely in the Washington region Thursday and will probably create widespread hazardous conditions," the Capital Weather Gang said.

Temperatures from 25 to 30 degrees will allow for rapid accumulation of snow and/or sleet well into Thursday morning, the forecasters said. The frozen precipitation may ease at times during the afternoon, but an icy mix could continue into Thursday night.

Here is the National Weather Service forecast for the next few days in the Washington, D.C., region:

Wednesday night: Snow likely after 2 a.m. A low temperature around 29. East wind 3 to 6 mph. Snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Thursday: Snow and sleet, possibly mixed with freezing rain before 3 p.m, then rain, possibly mixed with freezing rain between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., then rain after 4 p.m. High near 31. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. New snow and sleet accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Thursday night: Rain or freezing rain before 1 a.m., then sleet, possibly mixed with freezing rain. Low around 29. Northeast wind 6 to 9 mph.

Friday: Rain, snow and sleet before 10 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow between 10 a.m. and noon, then a chance of rain after noon. High near 40.