Northern Virginia Weather: Break From Cold Short-Lived, Returning to Rain and Snow

STERLING, VA — Here's the thing about days like Thursday: They're either a joyful respite from the winter chill or a cruel tease about something that's so very far away.

The day was one for shedding jackets, a reminder to book summer vacation rentals and, perhaps, to adopt a willful ignorance about what's ahead, according to the latest report from the National Weather Service.

While Friday proper is expected to be partly sunny with highs above 50 degrees, the evening probably will bring snow and sleet after 1 a.m.

Saturday? More of the same, but with a highs only in the mid-30s.

Here's the latest forecast from the NWS:

Tonight: A slight chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Southwest wind 6 to 14 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday: A slight chance of showers before 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. North wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday Night: Snow and sleet likely after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. North wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday: Snow and sleet likely before 8am, then freezing rain and sleet. High near 32. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday Night: Freezing rain and sleet likely. Cloudy, with a low around 31. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday: Freezing rain and sleet likely before 8am, then rain or freezing rain likely between 8am and 2pm, then rain likely after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday Night: Rain likely before 8pm, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

M.L.King Day: A chance of rain and snow before 8 a.m. Cloudy, with a high near 41. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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