Northern Virginia Weather: Umbrellas Likely Needed For Weekend

STERLING, VA—Expect considerable cloudiness and a 70 percent chance of rain both Saturday and Sunday in what's not exactly a super-duper weekend weather forecast. That's the word both from the National Weather Service and other area forecasters.

Most of the rain should hold off until mid-afternoon on Saturday but signs of sun before then should be relatively scant. Come Sunday, the rain likely will begin earlier. At least there's better news for Monday, which, according to the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang, "marks the start of a drying and perhaps slightly cooler trend."

So there you go. Here's the detailed forecast from the National Weather Service's area bureau in Sterling:

Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 3am, then isolated showers. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 3am, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. North wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 9pm, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Monday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Monday Night: A chance of showers before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday: A chance of showers after 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 50%.