Annandale, VA – The crisp calm of early December won’t last much longer. Clouds build Tuesday morning across northern Virginia, ushering in freezing rain and sleet before a soaking rain sweeps through by midday. Drivers heading toward I-95 and Route 50 should prepare for slick bridges and reduced visibility during the morning commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Baltimore–Washington, precipitation is expected to begin around 3 a.m. Tuesday as temperatures hover near freezing. A light glaze of ice and less than half an inch of snow could develop before warmer air changes everything to rain later in the morning. The shift will bring highs near 40°F, melting most ice but leaving wet, slippery pavement that could refreeze after sunset as temperatures drop into the 20s.
Travelers returning from Thanksgiving holidays are urged to use caution through Tuesday morning, especially on secondary roads, sidewalks, and driveways. Even a brief mix of sleet and freezing rain can cause spinouts and minor crashes. Conditions gradually improve through the afternoon as skies clear behind the front.
By Wednesday, sunshine returns with highs near 41°F. Another chill settles in late week, bringing a Friday chance of light snow or rain-snow mix across northern Virginia and the D.C. metro. It’s the first true sign that winter travel season has arrived for the region.
5-Day Outlook (Annandale, VA):
- Tuesday: Freezing rain changing to rain. High 40°F.
- Tuesday Night: Clearing, low 27°F.
- Wednesday: Sunny, high 41°F.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, high 43°F.
- Friday: Chance of snow or rain-snow mix. High 34°F.
