Icy Precipitation Expected To Start Weekend In NoVA, DC

VIRGINIA — Due to an icy forecast to start the weekend, Northern Virginia and DC will be under a winter weather advisory, and areas to the south face an ice storm warning.

The National Weather Service issued the weather forecast ahead of precipitation this weekend. The winter weather advisory from 10 a.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday calls for freezing rain mixed with sleet at times. Forecasters expect ice accumulations between one-tenth of an inch to two-tenths of an inch. Snowfall is expected to be less than an inch or nonexistent.

The advisory applies to the District of Columbia, Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Loudoun and other areas. Residents should prepare for difficult travel conditions and possible power outages. Ice on untreated surfaces could make travel dangerous.

As for areas under the ice storm warning, forecasters expect significant icing with accumulations around a quarter inch. Power outages and tree damage may be likely due to the ice. The warning applies from 7 a.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday in Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George and other areas including the Maryland counties of Charles and St. Mary's.

Travel is strongly discouraged in the ice storm warning area. Those who travel are encouraged to keep a flashlight, food and water in vehicles in case of an emergency and prepare for power outages.

Here is the NWS forecast for DC in the coming days:

• Friday night: A chance of flurries before 7 p.m., then a slight chance of snow after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Saturday: Snow and freezing rain likely before 3 p.m., then freezing rain and sleet likely, possibly mixed with snow. Cloudy, with a high near 31. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. Little or no snow and sleet accumulation expected.
• Saturday night: Freezing rain likely, possibly mixed with sleet, becoming all freezing rain after 8 p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 28. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New ice accumulation of 0.1 to 0.2 of an inch possible. Little or no sleet accumulation expected.
• Sunday: A slight chance of freezing rain before 10 a.m., then a slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Sunday night: A slight chance of rain and snow before midnight, then a slight chance of rain between midnight and 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Monday: A chance of rain after 1 p.m., and cloudy, with a high near 35. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. At night, a chance of snow and freezing rain before 1 a.m., then snow, possibly mixed with sleet between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., then snow, possibly mixed with freezing rain and sleet after 4 a.m. Low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.
• Tuesday: Rain, snow and freezing rain, possibly mixed with sleet before 1 p.m., then a chance of rain between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow after 5 p.m. High near 35. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. At night, a chance of snow before 7 p.m. and mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent at night.
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38. At night snow, freezing rain, and sleet are likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.