Enjoy the warmer weather while it lasts — arctic air is headed to the DC region
Beware, by the looks of the incoming cold weather this weekend, there might be some toros in the atmosphere, D.C.-area folks.
But rest easy if you’re planning to be out and about for the last hurrah of 2024, “New Year’s Eve is looking more like spring, with temperatures in the low 60s once again,” 7News First Alert Meteorologist Jordan Evans said.
While showers and thunderstorms are possible after 4 p.m., Evans said the bad weather spell (think also hail and a possible isolated tornado) will be fully off the radar by 7 p.m. Post-stormy weather, temperatures will stay in the mid-40s and stay in the 50s on New Year’s Day.
By Thursday and Friday, temperatures will remain in the 40s, before a strong blast of arctic air kicks off the first weekend of 2025 and brings with it some possible snow for early next week.
Showers and perhaps some thunderstorms will move across the area this afternoon and evening. Late tonight, rain will change to snow in the Allegheny Mountains and could be heavy at times through Wednesday evening – a Winter Storm Warning has been issued. https://t.co/5RyZgpfrqr pic.twitter.com/tAuf1W7cfd
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) December 31, 2024
Meteorologists are expecting temperature readings to drop back into the 30s, about 10 to 15 degrees below average, 7News First Alert Meteorologist Eileen Whelan said.
“Morning lows will be in the 20s, but when you factor in a bit of a wind, we’re going to be wind chilled,” Whelan said.
Though different models dispute where the storm threat will go, there is a possibility a system sweeping through the area early next week may potentially create the right conditions for a chance of snow.
Whelan said if the precipitation starts Monday morning, it will fall as snow and likely stick.
“We’re still six days away from the actual weather maker, so we’ll have to fine tune the forecast. But something that our weather team wants to put on your radar as a possibility,” Whelan said.
That arctic air and freezing temps, though, are likely here to stay through the middle of January.
WTOP’s Luke Lukert contributed to this article.
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FORECAST
TUESDAY: Increasing late day clouds. Late afternoon rain, thunder.
Highs: Between 55 and 60
Winds: Southeast 10-15 mph
TUESDAY NIGHT: Scattered showers tapering off.
Highs: Temperatures in the upper 40s
Winds: West 5-10 mph
NEW YEAR’S DAY, WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny, blustery.
Highs: Between 45 and 50
Winds: Northwest 15-25, gusts to 30 mph
THURSDAY: Sunny, windy.
Highs: Between 37 and 42, wind chills between 30 and 35
Winds: West 10-15 mph
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny.
Highs: Near 45
Winds: West 8-12 mph