50 MPH Winds, Rain To Slam Virginia, DC: Weather Alert

WASHINGTON, DC — Winds gusting up to 55 mph are expected to hit Washington, D.C. and northern Virginia overnight and much of Sunday, causing downed tree limbs and power outages. In its hazardous weather outlook, the National Weather Service says a cold front sweeping through the area will bring strong winds, and has issued a wind advisory and a gale warning for parts of the region.

The hazardous weather outlook is for Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River and the inland waters surrounding the District of Columbia, along with the Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Stafford, Spotsylvania and King George areas.

A gale warning is in effect for the waters Saturday night and a wind advisory is in effect starting at 4 a.m. Sunday and runs through 3 p.m.

Rain chances are 90 percent after 1 a.m. with a low around 46. A south wind increases to 15 to 20 mph after midnight with gusts as high as 33 mph. On Sunday look for a 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 7 a.m. Cloudy skies will gradually become mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Windy, with a northwest wind 21 to 29 mph, with gusts as high as 47 mph.

Passage of a strong cold front late tonight mean winds may diminish and then increase again, peaking mid- to late morning Sunday before diminishing in the late afternoon. Expect west winds from 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. In the wind advisory area, winds of 45 to 55 mph are predicted.

Strong winds may blow down limbs, trees, and power lines. Scattered power outages are expected, forecasters say. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.

Areas in the wind advisory include all or parts of: Rappahannock, Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Fauquier, Loudoun. Cities in the advisory include Dale City, Manassas, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Montclair, Reston, Herndon, Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, McLean, Franconia, Arlington, Alexandria, Warrenton, Purcellville, Leesburg, Ashburn, and Sterling.

But it could be worse. Snow is expected in the mountains late tonight through Sunday evening. A winter weather advisory is in effect for portions of West Virginia for 2-4 inches with locally up to 7 inches.

Patch graphic, wind advisory graphic by the National Weather Service