NoVa Snowstorm Alert: Here's What To Expect Saturday

A D.C. snowstorm is on the way ... maybe. We're less than 24 hours from a significant storm that could drop several inches of snow on our region. Here's what to expect, based on an updated forecast from the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang.

How much snow will we get?

Even with the storm right around the corner, nothing is set in stone yet. It's possible we'll get rain instead of snow. In addition, your odds of getting snow may vary dramatically based on where you live.

If you live in the northern part of D.C. or west of D.C. in the northern half of Fairfax County (or all of Loudoun County), you likely will get around 1-3 inches of snow, with the possibility of up to 6 inches in a "boom" scenario and less than 1 inch in a "bust" scenario. On the Maryland side, Montgomery County and northern Prince George's County are likely to get the most snow.

For the southern half of D.C., the southern half of Fairfax County (and PG County in Maryland), and Prince William and Fauquier counties, the forecast calls for a coating to an inch of snow, with no accumulation in a bust scenario or up to 3 inches in a boom scenario.

Farther south than that toward Stafford County, you're looking at no more than trace of snow.

When will the snow start?

Snow, sleet, and freezing rain should start falling sometime Saturday afternoon and it will continue into the night. Precipitation will be heavy at times.

At a certain point, the snow will change over to freezing rain or rain, and will end around 2 a.m.

The precipitation is expected to last about six hours or so, with the heaviest period being around 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday.

Why is the forecast still so uncertain?

This is a quick-moving storm, and the rain-snow line is very close to the D.C. area, so it's hard to tell what type of precipitation we will get.

In addition, even with the cold front it will still be pretty warm in the area, hovering just above freezing. It should dip cold enough to result in snowfall, but that could change. Temperatures right now are projected to be in the range of 30 to 35 degrees during the heaviest precipitation.

Will the snow stick around?

Definitely not. On Sunday, it will be sunny and temperatures will soar into the 50s, so if we do get a couple inches, it should immediately melt.

Image via National Parks Service