Northern Virginia Weather: A Mighty Wind (And Rain)

STERLING, VA — Wednesday looms as a three-headed curiosity: highs near 80, near-certain rain and heavy winds.

That's the word from the area outpost of the National Weather Service, which says Tuesday night's showers will resume late Wednesday afternoon.

And Thursday night and Friday? A chance — a slight chance — of snow.

Here's the latest NWS forecast:

Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a slight chance of showers between 1am and 4am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Low around 57. South wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. High near 78. Southwest wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 10pm and 1am. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Low around 45. Breezy, with a southwest wind 18 to 22 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Night: A slight chance of rain and snow after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday: A chance of rain and snow showers before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 44.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 65.

Monday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday: A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.

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