Winter Storm To Bring Heavy Rain To NoVA, Then 'Flash Freeze' On Friday Before Christmas

VIRGINIA — Forecasters have a little more clarity on a major winter storm that is moving toward the east and is expected to hit Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., on Thursday. It could impact travel for millions traveling in the lead-up to the Christmas holidays and cause delays at airports in dozens of locations around the nation.

For Northern Virginia and D.C., the National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Thursday morning through late Thursday night. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, the NWS said.

By Friday, any rain or snow that falls prior to the start of the holiday weekend is at risk of rapidly freezing, which will "threaten treacherous conditions for traveling and walking," according to AccuWeather.

Road crews will be unable to pre-treat roads due to the heavy rain on Thursday and Friday morning. "A serious, SERIOUS flash freeze event is likely. Avoid any unnecessary travel Friday evening and night! All those puddles and all that run-off rainfall will be frozen solid," NBC4 reported Wednesday.

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According to AAA, nearly 7.2 million Americans are expected to fly this holiday season. Storms in the Midwest and the East could lead to major delays and even cancellations, WUSA9 reported.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for western Maryland and West Virginia. For Northern Virginia and D.C., forecasters are calling for a mix of precipitation Thursday morning followed by moderate to heavy rain later in the day in Northern Virginia and D.C., as residents prepare for Christmas weekend.

The brief period of wintry mix is possible on Thursday, mainly north and west of D.C. before 9 a.m. Any significant ice or sleet could occur north of Frederick and west of Leesburg, the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said Thursday morning. Drivers are advised to be careful on bridges, ramps and overpasses during this time.

By Thursday afternoon, heavier rain is likely across Northern Virginia, with over an inch of rain possible.

After the precipitation leaves the area on Friday, a cold front will move into the D.C. area, creating what is expected to be the coldest Christmas holiday in more than 30 years. The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook for the region due to winds and a rapid freeze starting Friday.

The Virginia Department of Transportation said crews across Northern Virginia will be pretreating roads through overnight Wednesday and will begin deploying trucks early Thursday morning to treat roads as needed.

“Treat anything that looks wet as if it could be icy, especially bridges, ramps, overpasses, and elevated surfaces. If there is snow or ice on roadways, travel is hazardous,” VDOT said.

VDOT has a free mobile 511 app that offers information about traffic and incidents, as well as access to weather and more.

With extreme low temperatures expected later on Friday, VDOT recommends that motorists also pack an emergency kit and blankets, and have mobile devices fully charged in the event of a breakdown or emergency.

On Friday, as the rain tapers offs, temperatures could reach into the 50s in the D.C. area. By midafternoon Friday, temperatures will begin to plummet, possibly dropping 30 degrees, with temperatures possibly as cold as the teens and 20s by sunset, according to the Capital Weather Gang.

All day Friday will be windy, with strong winds in the 20 to 30 mph range. Gusts may top 45 mph in the D.C. area.

AAA issued a statement reminding drivers on Wednesday, the first day of winter, that cold weather could disrupt holiday travel plans if they don’t take precautions in advance.

“There is no convenient time to experience a breakdown, but over a holiday weekend in the extreme cold could be a worst-case scenario, especially if you are traveling with children or seniors,” Edward Hickey, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Baltimore Fleet Manager, said in a statement. “AAA will respond to members as quickly and safely as possible, but all motorists are encouraged to prepare now to avoid any problems down the road.”

The cold weather is forecast to stick around for the weekend. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are expected to be the coldest for the two-day holiday since 1989, when highs reached 23 on Christmas Eve and 29 on Christmas Day, the Capital Weather Gang said.

Here is the National Weather Service's D.C. area weather forecast for the next few days.

Wednesday night: A slight chance of rain after 4 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 33. Light east wind.

Thursday: Rain, mainly after 7 a.m. High near 52. East wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday night: Rain. Low around 50. East wind around 10 mph, becoming south after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.

Friday: Rain likely before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Breezy.

Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 15.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 24.

Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 14.

Christmas Day: Sunny, with a high near 26.