Northern Virginia Weekend Weather: The Calm Before The Snow

STERLING, VA — Northern Virginia's weekend weather forecast features slightly higher temperatures than the past couple of days had but also calls for rain much of late Saturday night and Sunday. Then, just in time for the work week, we're looking at the growing possibility of snow.

That's the word from numerous reports, including the National Weather Service arm in Sterling. But as WRC's Amelia Draper points out: "We do need the rain (because) the area is considered to be in a moderate drought with areas like Fredericksburg, Stafford and Spotsylvania Counties in a severe drought."

Both Saturday and Sunday are expected to have highs reaching the upper 50s but clouds begin rolling in Saturday as a sign of the approaching showers. Then, Monday night into Tuesday morning, the specter of snow looms. Here's the detailed forecast from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. South wind 6 to 8 mph.

Saturday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 59. South wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Saturday Night: Showers, mainly after 2am. Low around 48. South wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Sunday: Showers. High near 55. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Sunday Night: Showers likely, mainly before 8pm. Cloudy, with a low around 36. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Monday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 46. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday Night: A chance of rain showers before 8pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of snow showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday: A chance of snow showers before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 20.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Friday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

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