New Snowfall Estimates Released As Winter Storm Warning Issued In NoVA

Parts of Northern Virginia are now under a winter storm warning as a major nor'easter could dump as much as 12 inches of snow on some parts of the state.

The National Weather Service upgraded the previous winter storm watch in Loudoun County to a warning on Saturday afternoon. The warning is in effect from 3 p.m. Sunday until 10 a.m. Monday.

According to the National Weather Service, Loudoun County and other areas under the winter storm warning could see total snow accumulations between 3 and 6 inches. For elevations above 1,000ft, snow accumulations upwards of 6 to 12 inches are expected.

The rest of the D.C. region remains under a winter weather advisory, which is in effect from 5 p.m. Sunday until 10 a.m. Monday. Those areas are likely to see between 2 and 4 inches of accumulating snow.

"Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous," the NWS wrote. "Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute."

The storm system is expected to move northward from the Gulf Coast this weekend and will strengthen rapidly along the Atlantic Coast, according to AccuWeather, spreading accumulating snow from West Virginia through the mid-Atlantic and into southern New England from Saturday night through Monday.

AccuWeather meteorologists predict the storm will undergo rapid strengthening offshore, producing blizzard conditions in coastal areas, including Virginia.

"Not only will the storm evolve into a significant nor'easter with strong winds and heavy snow along parts of the Atlantic coast, but it may become a bomb cyclone as it begins to move away," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill.

The storm is expected to arrive in the D.C. region in the form of rain, which will begin in the predawn hours and will likely change to a mix or snow at times between sunrise and midday, especially west of Interstate 95, The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang wrote. Not much accumulation is expected during the day on Sunday.

Precipitation is expected to change to all snow Sunday night and into the overnight hours, when the most accumulation will occur.

The snow will likely be wet and heavy, and it will continue to fall through Monday afternoon, forecasters said.

Additionally, northeast winds will begin to increase on Sunday and persist through Monday, possibly into Monday night. Wind gusts of 30 mph are possible, with 40 mph gusts possible near the bay, forecasters said.

Major impacts from the storm include slick, snow-covered roads. Gusty winds will reduce visibility, likely cause widespread travel disruptions and could lead to power outages.

Here's a look at the detailed forecast for Northern Virginia:

Saturday Night: Rain likely, mainly after 4am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 36. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Sunday: Rain and snow before 1pm, then rain likely between 1pm and 2pm, then rain and snow after 2pm. High near 38. Northeast wind 6 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Sunday Night: Snow, possibly mixed with rain, becoming all snow after 10pm. Low around 31. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Monday: A chance of snow before 1pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow between 1pm and 4pm, then a slight chance of rain after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Breezy, with a northwest wind 17 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Blustery, with a northwest wind 18 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.