NoVA Weekend Weather: 'Bundle Up,' Polar Air Hits Next Week

WASHINGTON, DC — After a mild Thursday, normal winter weather has returned to northern Virginia for the weekend, while early forecasts say a mass of polar air will hit the Mid-Atlantic region by the middle of next week. The National Weather Service says that gusty winds Friday through Sunday will bring wind chills that make it feel like the temperature is in the teens in the DC metro.

"A mix of clouds and sun today as temperatures run around 5 degrees below normal for late January," the weather service says. "However, with gusty west to northwest winds, it will feel like the teens and 20s for much of the day. If spending time outdoors today, be sure to dress in layers and bundle up."

Friday will bring scattered sprinkles and flurries in the afternoon with a seasonable high near 39 degrees, while Saturday will be partly sunny with highs in the upper 30s, according to the weather service. Sunday warms into the upper 40s, but also carries a chance of rain.

Chuck Bell at NBC 4 in Washington, D.C., says that a big change in the weather will arrive by Tuesday or Wednesday as a polar air plunges south. "The polar front is due to arrive Tuesday night so that rain could end as a period of snow as temperatures fall into the teens by Wednesday morning. Still way too early to know how much snow might fall but, as of now, it doesn't look like much."

Here's a closer look at what to expect from the weather this weekend, courtesy of the National Weather Service.

Friday: Scattered sprinkles and flurries after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 39. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23. Northwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the morning.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm.

Sunday: A slight chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Southwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday Night: A slight chance of showers before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Tuesday: Rain likely after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday Night: Rain likely before 8pm, then snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday: Snow likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 29.

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LEAD PHOTO: A woman walks through wind, snow and sleet in Manhattan. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)