Northern Virginia Weekend Weather: Turn Off The AC?

STERLING, VA — Now that the Northern Virginia autumn heat wave finally broke, get ready for a crisp and sunny weekend suitable for all manner of outdoor activities. In fact we're talking about temperatures more than 5 degrees below the average high for this time of the year, according to the area arm of the National Weather Service in Sterling.

Saturday is expected to be a bit windy with highs not even reaching 70 and lows near 50. The average high is 75 degrees. Calmer winds arrive Sunday but otherwise, conditions should be nearly identical. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts. Also, like us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.) Here's the latest forecast from the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. North wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. North wind 6 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 68. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Light east wind.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 73.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 76.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 79.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.

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