Nor'easter: High Wind Warning Issued For NoVa, DC

March begins with a nor'easter developing on the Northeast coast, and for the DC region that means a strong wind storm is on the way. The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for the DC region overnight Thursday into Friday evening.

The warning is in effect from 3 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. Forecasters say strong winds around 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph could begin in the DC area overnight, resulting in downed trees and widespread power outages.

Areas under the high wind warning include: Prince William County, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fairfax County, Arlington County, Falls Church, Alexandria, District of Columbia, Stafford County, King George County, Northern Fauquier County, Southern Fauquier, Western Loudoun County and Eastern Loudoun. Specific cities named in the warning are Dale City, Manassas, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Montclair, Reston, Herndon, Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, McLean, Franconia, Arlington, Alexandria, Falmouth, Dahlgren, Warrenton, Turnbull, Purcellville, Leesburg, Ashburn and Sterling.

The National Weather Service urges DC area residents to prepare for potential power outages and secure lighter items outside. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or more can lead to property damage. Visit www.ready.gov/build-a-kit for what items to have in your emergency kits.

The nor'easter is expected to bring strong winds along the East Coast, coastal flooding and beach erosion to New England and New York's Long Island, snow to the Midwest and inner East Coast and rain to the South.

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Don't get excited for any snow, however. Snowfall is expected away from the coast at higher elevations from Maine to West Virginia Friday to early Saturday. Around the Interstate 95 corridor, one to two inches of rain is possible.

Nor'easters form when cold and warm meet and create instability in the atmosphere. Named for the region the storms mostly impact, nor'easters are most common through the winter months and impact large metropolitan regions like DC, New York and Philadelphia.

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