Warm Weather Makes Way for Possible Snowfall Overnight

With temperatures getting into the 40s and above the last few days, and into the 60s today, it’s hard to imagine snowfall, but that’s what’s expected overnight.

Calvin Meadows, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said northern Virginia could get between one to two inches of snow overnight. Meadows said rain showers expected this afternoon will turn to sleet around 11 p.m. and then to snow around midnight.

“It is still winter,” Meadows said Monday morning during a telephone interview. “So far compared to last year it’s been a mild one, but it’s still winter.”

Temperatures throughout northern Virginia are expected to drop below freezing overnight going into Tuesday. Meadows said the temperatures will make it cold enough for the snowfall to stick and accumulate. Meadows said temperatures will hover around 33 degrees Tuesday.

Mary Curtius, media relations manager for Arlington County, said the Water Sewer Streets bureau was expecting less than an inch of snow as of 12:30pm Monday. Though some street repair crews had been diverted to prepare snow equipment, officials are not anticipating any accumulation until after midnight.

What about snow removal staffing or budgetary complications due to the federal holiday? "We always pay people overtime if it's outside of normal hours," said Curtius.