Rain Or Shine? Here’s The Memorial Day Forecast For VA, DC

VIRGINIA — Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer in Virginia and Washington, D.C., and this year, many residents will mark the new season with a three-day weekend filled with memorial services, outdoor events and backyard barbecues.

At this point, your weekend is likely planned to a T. But, as most of us know, Mother Nature could always step in and ruin that carefully outlined itinerary with a trifecta of rain, storms and cloudy skies.

Unfortunately, it looks as if that might be the case for Memorial Day weekend in Virginia and D.C., according to the most recent forecast for our area.

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As you head home from work Friday evening, there's a 87 percent chance of rain starting late in the day.

Rain is expected to dampen outdoor for the across the region on Saturday and Sunday, as temperatures cool down over the three-day period. A high of 58 degrees is expected on Sunday.

This is bad news for those planning to sample some food or enjoy carnival rides at ViVa Vienna or listen to some sweet sounds at the Alexandria Jazz Festival over the weekend.

Your best bet for outdoor actives is on Monday, when the rain disappears and temperatures climb back to a high of 69 degrees. Skies will be partly cloudy all day.

That's good news for those observing Memorial Day by visiting Arlington National Cemetery or Herndon's Chesnut Grove Cemetery, before they hit the neighborhood pool or fire up the grill. It also allows one day of respite for those traveling to nearby beaches, so their weekend isn't a total wash.

Want a second opinion? The National Weather Service forecast calls for much of the same. There's a chance of showers starting on Friday, which carries over to more showers likely on Saturday. The one difference is that the chance of showers on Sunday is only 30 percent, so things might begin to dry out in the evening. Your best bet for outdoor fun comes on Monday, when it's expected to be mostly sunny, with a high of 71 degrees.