Drastic Temperature Shift For NoVA As Winter Warms: Forecasters

The DC-Baltimore region will get a break from the cold and blustery conditions that have chilled the area throughout the holiday season, with a significant warm-up in the forecast this week.

Clouds will clear out by Wednesday, with temperatures expected to soar by roughly 20 degrees at the end of the week.

"A steady warmup begins today, with highs eventually reaching the 50s to low 60s during the middle to late part of the week. Allegheny rain showers possible on Tuesday, then the next chance for widespread showers will come late in the week," the National Weather Service's Baltimore-DC office said on social media.

While Monday's high will be 43, temperatures will quickly rise into the low 50s on Tuesday before reaching the upper 50s later in the week and even the mid-60s by Friday, the NWS said.

If the clouds clear at midday on Friday and Saturday, the DC area could "flirt with 70" degrees, The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said.

"The thaw predicted later this week looks for real as the computer model consensus projects highs of at least 60 Friday and Saturday. The question now is just how far into the 60s it gets. That will depend on clouds and the coverage and frequency of rain showers."

The warming weather is at least partially attributable to the same polar vortex which ushered in Arctic air last week and again in late November, according to meteorologists.

"With the polar vortex toughening up over North America, it will create a more west-to-east flow of air across the U.S. and southern Canada, which tends to result in warmer weather conditions," Accuweather said.

Here's the latest Washington, D.C., area forecast, according to the National Weather Service:

Monday

Partly sunny, with a high near 43. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Monday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. West wind around 7 mph.

Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.

Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 36.

Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.

Thursday Night
A chance of rain after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday
A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Friday Night
Rain likely, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday
Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday Night
A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday
Partly sunny, with a high near 44.