A significant cold snap has gripped the Washington D.C. area, marking the coldest day since mid-April. With temperatures peaking around midnight, the region experienced highs only in the low to mid-50s, while afternoon temperatures plummeted to the mid-40s to around 50 degrees. Wind gusts reaching up to 30 mph made it feel even chillier, dropping the wind chills to the upper 20s to mid-40s throughout the day.
Tonight, temperatures are expected to drop between the mid-20s to near 30 degrees, with wind chills potentially plunging to the teens in some areas. This could lead to an early-season freeze in D.C., which would be the earliest since 2019, as the city braces for freezing conditions that typically don’t arrive until around November 20 on average.
As the night progresses, skies are forecasted to remain partly to mostly cloudy, with a slight chance of snow flurries. Residents are advised to prepare for a midwinter-like Tuesday, when morning temperatures will hover at freezing, only lifting to the low to mid-40s in the afternoon, despite plenty of sunshine. Winds will continue to gust beyond 30 mph, maintaining a notable chill.
Looking ahead, from Wednesday to Sunday, a more tranquil weather pattern is expected to take over, bringing seasonal temperatures that will see highs ranging between 55 to 60 degrees and mostly clear nights with lows in the 30s. While minimal rain is anticipated, there is a possibility of some precipitation by Sunday night, depending on the movements of an incoming storm system.
After this brief but impactful cold spell, weather models suggest mixed conditions next week, oscillating between average and possibly above-average temperatures, as the National Weather Service highlights a 33 to 40 percent chance of warmer conditions during the six- to ten-day forecast. Despite current chilly temperatures, the forecast brings hope for a return to milder weather, offering a reprieve from the current cold snap and a chance for residents to enjoy more typical autumn temperatures.