Hour-By-Hour Forecast Until 60 Degree Highs In NoVa, DC

WASHINGTON, DC — First northern Virginia and DC shivered through a bitterly cold weekend, then sleet and freezing rain followed. But weather forecasters say that temperatures are shifting from more normal highs to spring-like digits in a couple of days with a high of 60 degrees likely at the end of the week.

In fact, The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang says that it will be warm enough on Friday that the rain that is likely to come with the January thaw could bring thunder. With over two months until the first day of spring there is plenty of winter still ahead.

The brutal cold outbreak that gripped the region for two weeks has finally ended, but set several cold temperature records along the way, says the National Weather Service. The average temperature from Jan. 1-7 at Baltimore-Washington International Airport was 15.2 degrees, which shattered the previous record for the coldest first week of January in the Baltimore area by over 3 degrees. The previous record was 18.4 degrees, set in 1918.

"The cold was also impressive in the Washington DC area, though not technically record-breaking. The average temperature during the same time period was 19.0 degrees, ranking it fourth on the list for record coldest first weeks of January," the NWS said.

Washington Dulles International Airport had an average temperature of 15.3 degrees from Jan. 1 and 7, which broke the previous record of 19.5 degrees set in 1968.

Friday afternoon highs are likely to be very mild, likely reaching the 60s for the first time since Dec. 23. Another heavier round of showers — again with a chance of thunder — may arrive Friday evening, says the Capital Weather Gang.

Here is a breakdown of the climbing temperatures:

• 4 pm Wednesday: 43 degrees
• 1 am Thursday: 37 degrees
• 10 am Thursday: 41 degrees
• 1 pm Thursday: 48 degrees
• 7 pm Thursday: 50 degrees
• 9 pm Thursday: 51 degrees
• 6 am Friday: 50 degrees
• 9 am Friday: 55 degrees
• Noon Friday: 61 degrees
• 3 pm Friday: 64 degrees

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Reality returns by the weekend, according to the weather service. After a high of 55 degrees on Saturday, look for the thermometer only to reach 32 degrees on Sunday, and remain in the 30s early next week. It will be nice while it lasts, though.

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