Long-Term Forecast For Rest Of Winter In NoVa, DC Released

WASHINGTON, DC — Brutal cold started off the new year, but in recent days milder temperatures have brought about a January thaw with highs flirting with a spring-like 60 degrees in the Washington, DC, region. So what does the bulk of the winter have in store with two full months to go? Will the bitter Arctic air return, or will we enjoy more mild weather for the rest of the season?

The Weather Channel has some new insight. In a recent long-term forecast update, meteorologists from the Weather Channel crunched their data and computer models to come up with a prediction for the rest of winter. The news isn't great, unless you're looking for another blast of particularly chilly weather.

Much of the northern tier of the United States should expect colder-than-average temperatures to end winter and begin spring, the Weather Channel says. Unfortunately, that includes the Mid-Atlantic region.

"We expect a significant pattern shift toward colder temperatures in the eastern U.S. by mid-February," Chief Meteorologist Todd Crawford said in a news release. This is due to changes in the upper levels of the atmosphere, Crawford said. Temperatures in The District and northern Virginia will be at or slightly below average in February and March, the Weather Channel predicts.

But the cold air isn't expected in all of the country. La Niña conditions will linger through February, which typically results in a ridge of high pressure near the Southeast, limiting the cold in the region, Crawford said.

You can read the full long-term winter forecast here.

In the meantime, here's the forecast for the week ahead:

• Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
• Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
• Monday Night: Showers likely, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. South wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
• Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then a slight chance of showers. High near 65. South wind 10 to 14 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. West wind 7 to 10 mph.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.
• Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.
• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 43.
• Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 45.
• Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53.
• Saturday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Sunday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 59. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

(For more weather news, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

PHOTO: By Patch Editor Kara Seymour