Updated forecast: Snow showers at times tonight, before sunny skies finally return Wednesday

Overnight …

In this storm that seemingly never ends, we may see one last period of light snow late into the night or before dawn, possibly producing another dusting to half-inch before tapering. Lows will range from the mid-20s to around 30. Winds will be out of the northwest around 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph. Those winds should keep it feeling like the teens to near 20 most of the night.

Wednesday …

Clouds and a couple of snow showers could linger into early morning. Otherwise, the sun should finally return! It should be at least partly cloudy, if not mostly clear, by afternoon. Highs are expected to reach the mid-30s to near 40. Winds of 15 to 20 mph in the morning will likely gust to 35 or 40 mph into the midday, before tapering late.

Unless accumulating snow redevelops, this will be our last update. Scroll down to the bottom of this article to see earlier updates.

Forecast from 5 a.m.

Today’s daily digit

A somewhat subjective rating of the day’s weather, on a scale of 0 to 10.

4/10: More snowflakes are fun, but we’re missing that sun.

Express forecast

• Today: Snow showers, windy. Highs: 35-40.
• Tonight: Snow showers or flurries. Lows: 24-29.
• Tomorrow: Becoming mostly sunny. Highs: 37-42.

Forecast in detail

A slow-exiting nor’easter keeps cold, cloudy and windy weather in play today with scattered snow showers possible into this evening. Sunshine starts to finally break through later tomorrow, and we should see mostly sunny skies on Thursday, too, before a front approaches Friday with rain chances. We turn colder by Saturday, and will need to watch for another potential winter storm by Sunday.

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Today (Tuesday): Cloudy, cold and windy with scattered snow showers. Blustery winds from the northwest at 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph will make the highs in the mid- to upper 30s feel like the 20s. Confidence: Medium

Tonight: Clouds continue with a few snow flurries possible as lows drift down into the colder mid- to upper 20s. Watch for slick spots, especially on typically slippery surfaces. Winds stay gusty, blowing at 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 to 30 mph at times. Confidence: Medium

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Tomorrow (Wednesday): Mostly cloudy conditions start the day, but we should see partial clearing through the morning to midday hours before mostly sunny skies pop out by afternoon as highs hit the upper 30s to maybe low 40s. It will still be breezy, with winds blowing at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 or even 30 mph. Confidence: Medium-High

Tomorrow night: Clear and cold with waning winds as lows range from the upper teens in the outer suburbs to the mid- to upper 20s in the city. Confidence: Medium-High

A look ahead

Thursday is a nicer day with mostly sunny skies and highs in the low to mid-40s. Thursday night should see increasing clouds, with lows ranging through the 30s. Confidence: Medium-High

Friday brings some warmer weather ahead of a cold front as skies stay cloudy and rain showers arrive. Highs range from the mid-40s to around 50. Turning colder with partly cloudy skies Friday night, with lows in the 20s to around 30. Confidence: Medium

Saturday should be partly cloudy and colder with a chance of a shower as highs range in the upper 30s to low 40s. Mostly cloudy skies return Saturday night with lows in the 20s to around 30. Confidence: Low-Medium

Sunday might feature another storm system that could bring snow or mixed precipitation to the area, continuing into Sunday night. Highs should be in the 30s with 20s or teens Sunday night. Confidence: Low

Snow potential index

A daily assessment of the potential for at least one inch of snow in the next week, on a 0-10 scale.

4/10 (↓): Watching a possible coastal storm system late this weekend.

Read more about Capital Weather Gang’s confidence rating.

Expired updates

3:05 p.m. — Snow showers re-approaching immediate area from north

Just as one snow band exited the immediate area, another has developed to the north along Interstate 270 which is attempting to push south toward the Beltway. The intensity of these bands does tend to weaken a bit as they move south, but we could see some brief bursts in the coming hour or so. Gusty winds will blow the flakes around and reduce visibility.

Temperatures ranging from 32 to 37 degrees remain a little too warm for accumulation, but we’ll need to watch for them to fall as darkness settles in. If any steadier snow showers develop this evening, they could put down another coating.

Our next update will come around 5 p.m.

1:30 p.m. — Snow showers weaken some but shift back inside Beltway

The band of snow that had focused in our western areas has shifted inside the Beltway but eased in intensity. Still, large flakes are gently falling in many parts of the immediate area, and the intensity picks up toward northern Maryland, north of Interstate 70. This band is gradually shifting toward the east and southeast and should exit the Beltway in the next hour.

We’ll need to watch another band developing between Hagerstown and Frederick, which may dip back into Montgomery County and northern Virginia later this afternoon.

Temperatures near and a little above freezing mean snow won’t stick much to roads and accumulation will be pretty limited, as melting may match the rate of any new snowfall. However, as we get later into the afternoon and this evening, temperatures may begin to dip, allowing some accumulation if steady snow falls.

Noon — Snow band in central Maryland and northern Virginia stretches back to New York state

A band of snow stretching from the east side of Frederick, Md. through western Montgomery County and into western Fairfax County is part of a much larger band that extends into New York state. It will continue to produce snow into the afternoon while perhaps shifting slightly eastward back inside the Beltway.

If you’re under heavier bursts within this band, expect to add accumulation (generally modest amounts of a coating to an inch). Temperatures have generally risen to 31 to 35 degrees, so snow isn’t sticking as much to paved surfaces but will stack up a bit on the grass when it comes down steadily. Also, winds are kicking up a bit, and could gust over 25 mph this afternoon, limiting visibility at times as the snow is blown around.

The coastal storm producing the band isn’t moving much and will continue to generate these bands of snow into tonight and possibly into the predawn hours Wednesday.

10:40 a.m. — Snow bands focus west of Beltway

Very light snow continues inside the Beltway and along Interstate 95, but it’s inconsequential.

Scattered bands of moderate snow are focused west of the Beltway and most concentrated in the zone from Frederick to Leesburg.

Areas that end up under heavier bands could still pick up a quick coating to inch.

These hit or miss bands may be with us even well into tonight.

9:15 a.m. — Snow still going but easing slightly

Areas inside the Beltway and along Interstate 95 north to near Columbia continue to see snow but radar does show the band narrowing a bit and the intensity lessening.

Snow may continue in the immediate area another hour or so, and then should start to taper off unless the band redevelops. Areas to the north may see the snow subside a bit sooner.

Generally about 2-3 inches of snow have fallen in the immediate area since last night, pushing three-day storm totals into the 4- to 6-inch range.

After this band of snow fades, the snow isn’t necessarily over. While we’ll likely catch a bit of break, scattered snow showers could redevelop this afternoon into the evening, possibly even lingering overnight some.

Temperatures this afternoon should rise above freezing so any additional accumulation should mostly be grass and untreated roads. Well-traveled and treated roads should stay wet.

8:10 a.m. — Snow continues in narrow band through the metro area

A nearly stationary band of light to at times moderate snow continues passing through the heart of the metro area. It extends from Carroll County through Montgomery and western Howard counties through the District, eastern Fairfax County and western Prince George’s counties and into eastern Prince William and western Charles counties.

The snow could continue for at least another hour or two and another half-inch to inch is possible, with isolated new amounts up to two inches. The National Weather Service has extended the winter weather advisory from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. due to the snow band.

Reports indicate main roads are fine due to temperatures near or even a little above freezing, but side roads are slushy and visibility is reduced. About one to inches of snow fell in many parts of the immediate area overnight.

6:30 a.m. — Snow band has set up along Interstate 95 corridor

A narrow band of light to moderate snow has set up through the immediate area, paralleling the I-95 corridor. This could remain stationary for a few more hours and produce up to an inch or two of snow accumulation, while reducing visibility and causing slick roads.