1. April gloominess returns
2. Chilly, cloudy, wet few days
3. Total rainout on Friday
4. Some hope for Sunday afternoon

As we settle into a cool and rainy pattern these next few days, just keep reminding yourself that we really do need the rain. 

Our entire region has been 35-40% below average in rainfall since the beginning of October last year. That equals about 6 to 8 inches of rainfall that we didn’t get compared to the average.

The clouds are back and some areas have already seen the first drops of rain Thursday morning. Thursday will not be an all-day rain, that comes Friday, but light rain is likely Thursday morning and then again by late Thursday afternoon and evening.

The easy part of this forecast will be the temperatures. We’ll be in the low to mid-50s Thursday afternoon, Friday afternoon and again on Saturday afternoon.

With the rain ending and some hope for sunshine back in the picture, we might make it into the low 60s on Sunday afternoon. 

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How much rain is the DC area going to get through Saturday?

So, how much rain are we likely to get with all these cloudy days? On average, three-day rain totals will mostly fall in the inch to 1.5-inch range.  There will likely be a bullseye of 2 inches to 2.5 inches somewhere in the DMV but the forecast models don’t exactly agree on where that bullseye will be. The American model pouts it over the Bay. The European model puts it over Northern and Central Virginia. 

The one thing the models do agree on is the majority of the rain will fall between Friday morning and late Friday night when a full inch or more is likely. 

Rain totals Thursday will only be around 0.10 inches and rain totals on Saturday will be a quarter of an inch or less.  Monday and Tuesday look mild and dry with highs back around 70 degrees.

Weather radar

Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.

10-day forecast

Quickcast

THURSDAY:
Cloudy And Cool
AM: Drizzle, Sprinkles
PM: Rain Likely
Rain Totals Around 0.10″
Wind: Southeast 12-24 mph
Chance Of Rain: 80%
HIGHS: 52° – 58°

THURSDAY NIGHT:
Clouds And Rain
Rain Totals Near 0.50″
Breezy And Chilly
Chance Of Rain: 100%
Wind: Southeast 8-18 mph
LOWS: 45° – 50°

FRIDAY:
Cloudy, Breezy And Chilly
Rain, Moderate At Times
Rain Totals Around 1.0″
Wind: Northeast 10-20 mph
Chance Of Rain: 100%
HIGHS: 50° – 56°

SATURDAY:
Cloudy, Breezy And Chilly
Light Rain, Drizzle All Day
Rain Totals Around 0.10″
Wind: North 12-22 mph
Chance Of Rain: 80%
HIGHS: 48° – 54°

SUNDAY:
Cloudy Morning
Afternoon Clearing
Dry And Milder
Wind: Northwest 8-18 mph
Chance Of Rain: 0%
HIGHS: 56° – 62°

Sunrise 6:39        Sunset 7:41
Average High: 66°   Average Low: 47°

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

However, what you’ll likely see on your car Friday morning isn’t pollen. It’s actually dust.

What’s happening?

The damaging high winds, tornadoes and dust storms that swept through parts of the central and southwest U.S. earlier this month are moving to the East Coast.

Residents in Chicago also experienced dirty rain with some posting photos of their vehicles covered in mud spots.  

Why is this happening?

As dust mixes in with strong storms, it causes the storm to rain dust leading to muddy or dirty rain.

The dirtier and dustier air is primarily in central and Northern Virginia.

What should you do?

As the windshield wipers are going tonight, don’t be surprised if the rain looks a little dirty or muddy.

The dust also is not known to cause major issues to the air quality. The increased tree pollen because of the spring season is still the main culprit of bad allergies.

The good news is the rain will rinse the dust and pollen out of the air. The cooler temperatures in the coming days will also give people suffering with allergies a break.

Sign up for our free deep-dive newsletter, The 4Front, to get standout News4 stories sent right to your inbox. Subscribe here.

Rain came down at a blinding pace as the storm headed from west to east Wednesday afternoon. Before noon, rainfall rates were 1 to 3 inches an hour in some areas west of D.C., including Front Royal, Virginia.

Wind advisories were rolled back for the D.C. area, and a severe thunderstorm watch for St. Mary’s and Calvert counties in Maryland expired at 6 p.m. Here’s a full list of weather alerts.

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center said D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia are at a “slight risk” for severe storms on Wednesday.

Strong wind gusts threatened damage, especially to small tree limbs. Although we’re not expecting a tornado, these storms will be capable of producing a twister. Stay aware. We’ll deliver any severe weather alerts in the NBC Washington apps for iOS and Android.

There was some thunder and lightning with the first line of storms, but there’s been even more with the second wave out to the west and moving toward the D.C. area. Expect those storms about 9-11 p.m.

In addition to heavy downpours and thunder and lightning, hail is possible with these storms.

Weather radar

How to prepare for strong storms

Secure loose items like patio furniture and trash cans before winds pick up.

If you must drive during rain, go slowly. Remember to never drive into standing water: Turn around, don’t drown.

Strong winds to blow Thursday

Thursday will be much cooler and very gusty. Winds of 40 mph will have the wind chill dropping into the 30s Thursday afternoon.

Winds could knock down branches or trees and potentially lead to power outages. Keep your devices charged just in case.

Here’s a look ahead to the weekend and next week.

Send us your guess for when the trees will bloom. Submit the date and time that you think the National Park Service will announce the blossoms have reached peak bloom by filling out the fields at the bottom of this page.

The person who gets the closest without going over will receive a cherry blossom-themed NBC4 & Telemundo 44 prize pack.

Peak bloom is defined as when 70% of the Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin are in bloom, which is the final stage of the six blooming phases.

Here are some things to consider when making your prediction (then submit your guess below!):

The temperatures in March:

This is the factor that usually has the biggest effect on when the trees bloom, according to Storm Team4 — and keep in mind that it’s been colder than usual lately. Very warm or cool temperatures have led to peak bloom as early as March 15 (in 1990) and as late as April 18 (back in 1958), according to the National Park Service (NPS).

Typical peak bloom times:

“The most likely time to reach peak bloom is between the last week of March and the first week of April,” the NPS says.

Current official cherry blossom predictions:

The NPS has predicted peak bloom will be March 28 to 31 this year, while Storm Team4 predicts peak bloom between March 28 and April 3.

Previous peak bloom dates:

You may also want to consider previous years. Last year, the trees hit peak bloom on March 17. And here are the peak bloom dates over the last 10 years before that: March 23 (2023), March 21(2022), March 28 (2021), March 20 (2020), April 1 (2019), April 5 (2018), March 25 (both 2017 and 2016); April 10 (both 2015 and 2014).

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The cherry trees surrounding D.C.’s Tidal Basin may not look like much now. But within a few weeks, they’ll be bursting with delicate pink and white flowers in a spectacular spring display drawing thousands of visitors.

Storm Team4 Meteorologist Amelia Draper predicts peak bloom will fall between March 28 and April 3.

Peak bloom is the best time to visit D.C.’s famous cherry blossom trees. It’s when 70% of the blossoms on the Tidal Basin’s Yoshino cherry trees are out.

The cherry trees have to complete a long journey before peak bloom. Cherry blossoms bloom in stages: green bud, florets visible, extension of florets, peduncle elongation and puffy white all come before the full bloom.

Weather plays a huge role in how quickly the flowers emerge.

Last year, D.C.’s famed trees had green beds as of March 2, and peak bloom was called on March 17, hurried along by warm temperatures. It was one of the earliest peak blooms recorded.

We don’t have those green buds yet for 2025.

How does Storm Team4 decide its cherry blossom forecast?

Draper looked at forecast factors, including how cold winter has been and temperature predictions, to inform her peak bloom prediction.

But it’s a tricky forecast because cherry blossoms are fickle, Draper said.

“They really depend on the day-by-day temperature, high and low throughout the night,” she said.

Temperatures in March are expected to be average, according to the Climate Prediction Center.

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She also looked at the “indicator tree,” a tree designated by the National Park Service to gauge the blooming cycle. The indicator tree is about two weeks ahead of the Tidal Basin cherry blossoms.

As of Monday, the indicator tree wasn’t even close to the first stage of the blooming cycle.

So, it’s looking like the cherry blossoms will reach bloom at a normal time. Overall, April 3 is the average first day of peak bloom. But if temperatures move higher or lower than average, that could shift peak bloom expectations.

When is the best time to visit the cherry blossoms in D.C.?

When the cherry blossoms are in peak bloom, visitors are treated to a sweeping view of white, puffy trees surrounding the Tidal Basin water and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

If weather conditions are good, peak bloom can last as long as 10 days.

Visiting during peak bloom is a bucket list item for anyone living in the D.C. area, but cherry trees start to look stunning earlier in their blooming cycle. It’s often worthwhile to visit by the time the National Park Service declares the collection of trees is in the puffy white stage.

If you’re jotting down a date to visit, Draper has some pro tips.

“I would probably go right now on the first week in April, maybe the second week in April, because if the blossoms start to fall off the trees, it’s still so pretty,” she said. “All the petals are dancing around. Just, what a wonderful time.”

“We’ve lived here for so long and it never gets old,” she added.

Again, that’s assuming average temperatures. We promise to share any significant updates along the way!

It’s important to note that every tree blooms on its own timeline. For several weeks in March and April, you’ll likely be able to find a stunning backdrop for a cherry blossom selfie.

Events for the National Chery Blossom Festival run from March 20 to April 13.

We love cherry blossom season! For updates, watch News4 on air, follow us on social media, download our mobile app and subscribe to our newsletters.

Wednesday is a Weather Alert day as the winter storm changed from snow to rain.

Follow our live coverage below.

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

However, what you’ll likely see on your car Friday morning isn’t pollen. It’s actually dust.

What’s happening?

The damaging high winds, tornadoes and dust storms that swept through parts of the central and southwest U.S. earlier this month are moving to the East Coast.

Residents in Chicago also experienced dirty rain with some posting photos of their vehicles covered in mud spots.  

Why is this happening?

As dust mixes in with strong storms, it causes the storm to rain dust leading to muddy or dirty rain.

The dirtier and dustier air is primarily in central and Northern Virginia.

What should you do?

As the windshield wipers are going tonight, don’t be surprised if the rain looks a little dirty or muddy.

The dust also is not known to cause major issues to the air quality. The increased tree pollen because of the spring season is still the main culprit of bad allergies.

The good news is the rain will rinse the dust and pollen out of the air. The cooler temperatures in the coming days will also give people suffering with allergies a break.

Sign up for our free deep-dive newsletter, The 4Front, to get standout News4 stories sent right to your inbox. Subscribe here.

StormTeam4 was in Weather Alert mode Tuesday and going into Wednesday. Winter storm warnings will continue to be in effect for most of the DMV, where 4″-8″ of snow is likely. Expect 6″-12″ further south of D.C. and 2″-4″ to the north.

This live blog has ended.

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

Storm Team4 says most residents of the D.C. area should expect 4 to 8 inches of snow. Go here to track the forecast.

“It’s gonna be a long week for parents, especially with President’s Day on Monday. Kids might be out for a full week of school,” Storm Team4 Meteorologist Amelia Draper, a mom herself, said live on News4 Midday on Monday.

Here’s our running list of school changes on Tuesday:

Alexandria City Public Schools: half day schedule

Fairfax County Public Schools: three-hour early dismissal

Fauquier County Schools: closed

Frederick County Schools (Maryland): three-and-a-half-hour early dismissal

Fredericksburg Public Schools: closed

Loudoun County Public Schools: three-hour early dismissal

Manassas City Public Schools: early dismissal

Manassas Park City Public Schools: early dismissal

Prince George’s County Public Schools: two-hour early dismissal

Prince William County Public Schools: two-hour early dismissal

Spotsylvania County Public Schools: closed

Stafford County Schools: closed

Warren County Public Schools: virtual learning only

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Stay with NBC Washington for updates. You can follow school closing updates here too.

Here’s the full Storm Team4 forecast and check here for all school closures and delays.

Virginia school delays

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS): Schools will open two hours late.

Culpeper County Public Schools (CCPS): Schools will be closed on Thursday.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS): Schools and offices will open two hours late.

Fauquier County Public Schools (FCPS): Schools will closed on Thursday. Administrative offices will open at 11 a.m.

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS): Schools will open two hours late, while administrative offices will open on time.

Manassas Park City Public Schools (MPCS): All schools will open two hours late.

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCPS): Schools will open two hours late Thursday.

Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS): All schools will operate on a two-hour delay. Staff should arrive two hours after their normal reporting time.

Warren County Public Schools (WCPS): All schools will be on a two-hour delay schedule.

Maryland school delays

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS): Schools and offices will open two hours late.

Washington County Public Schools (WCPS): Schools will operate on a two-hour delay.

Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS): Schools will be closed on Thursday.

University of Maryland (UMD): School will open at 10 a.m.

Continue to refresh this page for updates.

This snow won’t be anything close to a crippling blizzard, but it could impact travel.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for much of the metro D.C. area Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It issued a winter storm warning for areas to the north and west.

Check for all weather alerts here.

The frigid temperatures, which will begin dropping Saturday evening, prompted D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to activate the District’s Hypothermia Alert. She shared emergency hotlines in a statement to social media.

Bowser also said she will deploy the District Snow Team beginning late Saturday night.

Prince George’s County issued a statement saying it has altered its snow response after criticism over how the last storm was handled.

“Snow operations during our last storm did not meet residents’ expectations or the high standards we strive to maintain as a department,” Department of Public Works and Transportation Director Michael Johnson said. “We have implemented adjustments to strengthen our response and these improvements have prepared us for a better response during this round of winter weather.”  

The county said it would begin pretreating hills, cold spots and residential roads Saturday, then begin salting of residential areas at 4 a.m. Sunday.

In Virginia, the Department of Transportation said crews didn’t pretreat roads because the storm was expected to start as rain, which would wash away the pretreatment before it changed to snow.

Public schools in Loudoun, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties are closed for any activities on school campuses. Alexandria’s libraries will be closed Sunday, and Loudoun County closed its facilities.

Follow closings and delays here.

When will the snow start in the D.C. area?

Expect precipitation around sunrise, but not too much.

Snow will start will a light dusting in the early morning but will be much more widespread by 11 a.m. and continue coming down heavy in the afternoon, causing reduced visibility and icy conditions on the roads and sidewalks.

The snow will move out Sunday evening, with not much falling precipitation by 7 p.m. Falling temperatures could make conditions extremely icy.

Next week will be brutally cold from Monday through Thursday (and many roads, plus some Metro stations, will be closed for the presidential inauguration). The cold is expected to be so intense that President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration will move indoors.

Temperatures will be in the low 20s Monday, but with wind gusts of 35 mph, wind chills could be around 10 degrees and even in the single digits.

Tuesday and Wednesday will be frigid as well.

How much snow will fall in the D.C. area?

The D.C. area could see 2-4 inches of snow.

Three to 5 inches is expected to the north and west.

And south and east of the D.C. area, expect a trace to 2 inches.

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

However, what you’ll likely see on your car Friday morning isn’t pollen. It’s actually dust.

What’s happening?

The damaging high winds, tornadoes and dust storms that swept through parts of the central and southwest U.S. earlier this month are moving to the East Coast.

Residents in Chicago also experienced dirty rain with some posting photos of their vehicles covered in mud spots.  

Why is this happening?

As dust mixes in with strong storms, it causes the storm to rain dust leading to muddy or dirty rain.

The dirtier and dustier air is primarily in central and Northern Virginia.

What should you do?

As the windshield wipers are going tonight, don’t be surprised if the rain looks a little dirty or muddy.

The dust also is not known to cause major issues to the air quality. The increased tree pollen because of the spring season is still the main culprit of bad allergies.

The good news is the rain will rinse the dust and pollen out of the air. The cooler temperatures in the coming days will also give people suffering with allergies a break.

Sign up for our free deep-dive newsletter, The 4Front, to get standout News4 stories sent right to your inbox. Subscribe here.

A piece of the polar vortex, an area of cold air that swirls around the Earth’s poles, will brush by the D.C. area next week. This frigid air will move in Sunday night into Monday morning following some fresh snow during the day on Sunday.

President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday his swearing-in ceremony would be held indoors due to the cold. Capital One Arena will also open for a public viewing of the ceremony so people don’t have to stand in the cold to watch.

“I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda, as was used by Ronald Reagan in 1985, also because of very cold weather,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The various Dignitaries and Guests will be brought into the Capitol. This will be a very beautiful experience for all, and especially for the large TV audience!”

Here’s what to know about the weather for Inauguration Day, as well as the days before and after. Continue to check here for updates to the forecast.

Snow expected on Sunday in Washington, D.C.

A storm system will bring about 2 to 4 inches of snow to the D.C. area on Sunday, Storm Team4 Meteorologist Amelia Draper said.

A wintry mix is possible at the start, when temperatures will be above freezing. Eventually, it will transition to all snow.

Plunging temperatures will guarantee snow sticks. Roads could become quite difficult late Sunday afternoon and evening.

Inauguration Day weather in DC

Snow might be on the ground for the inauguration, but no additional snow will fall on Monday, Draper said. In addition to the snow, it will be cold and blustery.

Temperatures will likely warm to a high of about 25 degrees during the midday hours, when the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.C. Vance takes place outside the U.S. Capitol. But wind chills will make it feel much colder, possibly as low as the 10s, Draper said.

Heading into Monday afternoon, temperatures are expected to fall to about 20 degrees during the presidential parade.

Coldest inauguration in years

Storm Team4 anticipates the inauguration ceremony for Trump will be one of the coldest in the country’s history.

President Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985 was the coldest with a high of only 7 degrees and a wind chill of -20.

There are some records of President Ulysses S. Grant’s second inauguration having a numbing high of only 16 degrees in March of 1873.

Inaugurations have been held on January 20 since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s second inauguration in 1937.

In 1961, John F. Kennedy’s inauguration was 22 degrees with windy conditions and snow on the ground.

In more recent times, former President Barack Obama’s first inauguration was similarly brutal to Monday’s forecast, with highs in the upper 20s and wind chills in the teens.

How to prepare if you’re attending the inauguration

Although most festivities will now be held inside, anyone who’s planning to be out and about in D.C. on Inauguration Day should make sure to wear multiple layers, a hat and gloves, Draper said.

Draper recommends getting rechargeable electronic hand warmers, which are effective and easy to use.

Trump said Friday the Capital One Arena in Downtown D.C. would be open Monday for people to watch his swearing-in ceremony and inaugural address. Follow updates about the arena viewing here.

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Frigid weather sticking around in DC area

Highs will again be in the 20s on Tuesday and Wednesday — not factoring in the wind chill. The coldest day will be Tuesday and the Arctic air will start to retreat on Wednesday.

Average highs for this time of year are in the mid-40s and average lows are around 30 degrees, Draper said.

The District, along with Maryland and Virginia, have maps that show residents where crews are removing snow from the roads.

Here’s who to contact in each jurisdiction if your roads still haven’t been cleared.

Washington, D.C.

D.C.’s Snow Tracker tool shows how local crews and contractors prepare roads before snowfall, and how and where they’ve cleared the snow. Click here to see the interactive map.

If you want to report a street that still hasn’t been cleared, you can call 311.

Maryland

Montgomery County

Montgomery County has a portal available for residents to know the snow removal status of their street by writing their street number and zip code. Check it out here.

You can also report a missed street and create a service request. You can also contact the State of Maryland at 301-513-7300.

Prince George’s County

According to the Prince George’s County website, “residents and citizens are asked to wait 48 hours, after the precipitation has stopped, to call 311 or 301-883-4748 to report emergencies or concerns about roadway conditions/snow removal.”

Click here for more information.

Anne Arundel County

If you want to know if the streets you usually use were plowed, Anne Arundel County has an interactive map.

If you want to request a service, you can call 311.

Virginia

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) also has an interactive map where you can watch live traffic cameras as trucks clear the roads, and see where the roads have already been cleared.

Alexandria City

Click here for the Alexandria City snow report interactive map.

Prince William and Fairfax County

The Prince William County and Fairfax County websites say residents can call VDOT at 800-367-7623 for information on snow removal or to report problems.

Manassas City

According to the Manassas City website, residents should call to either of these two phone numbers during business hours for more information about snow removal: (703) 257-8347 or (703) 257-8353

If you want more information about a specific county or city, type on Google “when will my street get plowed” and the name of the county you’re looking for.

Here’s the latest forecast, along with what residents are dealing with on the roads throughout the region.

Snow forecasted for late Friday, early Saturday

Snow started to fall in the area about 10 p.m. Friday but is only expected to continue until about 4 a.m. Saturday, most of the area can expect anything from a dusting to 2 inches of snow, Storm Team4 Meteorologist Amelia Draper said.

How much snow should we expect in the DC area?

• Most of the D.C. metro area is likely to get between a dusting and 2 inches.
• Areas north and west of Dulles International Airport to the Maryland-Pennsylvania border will likely get an inch or less.
• The areas most likely to get 1 to 3 inches will be Southern Maryland, Virginia’s Northern Neck and the southern half of the Delmarva Peninsula.
• There will likely be a 4 to 6-inch snowfall south of Richmond towards Williamsburg, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for 10 p.m. Friday to 7 p.m. Saturday for the D.C. area and counties south of the city.

How will this snowfall affect roads?

Most roads should be fine Saturday since it’s a light snow, but Draper says to be cautious of roads that weren’t cleared of ice or snow over the past few days.

“If you do have a sheet of ice on your neighborhood road, that is not going to change with this storm or really any time soon,” Draper said.

Any new snowfall will stick to the roads due to the freezing temperatures.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office said it deployed crews at 9 p.m. Friday to treat roads before the snow.

Road conditions in DC, Maryland and Virginia

Most of the major roads are in good shape in the D.C. area. But side streets and neighborhood roads are still an issue for many.

Residents in some neighborhoods of Prince George’s County, Maryland, are upset after going days with icy roads.

“They’ve always come and cleared the streets in the past. This is the worst I’ve seen,” Temple Hills resident Eunice Hill told News4 on Thursday.

A News4 crew went to a neighborhood in Hillcrest Heights on Friday and found side streets covered in ice.

Acting County Executive Tara H. Jackson said in a statement Friday afternoon there were challenges in plowing the roads.

“The delay in treating residential roads is due to the prioritization of primary and secondary roads. Additionally, freezing temperatures have significantly impacted the effectiveness of our Department of Public Works and Transportation’s (DPW&T) salt application,” Jackson said in part.

Jackson said the public works department introduced a new chemical to help breakdown the ice on the roads on Thursday and she hoped residents would begin to see a difference.

“It doesn’t feel like things are going well, I can tell you that. One thing that’s been different is it’s been so cold. We’re not having the natural thawing effect that you would normally have,” Prince George’s County Council Chair Jolene Ivey told News4 by video call earlier Friday.

Ivey said she and her colleagues on the council have discussed holding a hearing to look into why the county has had issues clearing some roadways in a timely manner.

Ivey said people can report icy roads to PGC 311 by dialing 311 or going online. Ivey said residents can also email her at jivey@co.pg.md.us.

“I’m happy to reach out directly to DPW&T [Department of Public Works & Transportation]. Having the information entered into 311 really does help, though,” Ivey said.

Northern Virginians have reported similar issues with secondary roads in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties.

Prince William County Public Schools closed Thursday, stating there were nearly 50 roads in poor condition. The school system opened two hours late Friday.

School officials said they want the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to help them clear emergency bus routes in the future.

VDOT said it has been working with schools, but the continued freezing weather has made things difficult.

“The fact that we have continued to have such deep freeze, when people get out at the beginning of a storm early and start packing it down, it turns to ice and it’s very difficult to chip away at that,” VDOT spokesperson Ellen Kamilakis said.

Virginians can request a plow to come to their street by calling 800-367-7623 or going online, but VDOT said it will take time to respond.

Go here for more information about who to contact if your street needs to be plowed.

However, what you’ll likely see on your car Friday morning isn’t pollen. It’s actually dust.

What’s happening?

The damaging high winds, tornadoes and dust storms that swept through parts of the central and southwest U.S. earlier this month are moving to the East Coast.

Residents in Chicago also experienced dirty rain with some posting photos of their vehicles covered in mud spots.  

Why is this happening?

As dust mixes in with strong storms, it causes the storm to rain dust leading to muddy or dirty rain.

The dirtier and dustier air is primarily in central and Northern Virginia.

What should you do?

As the windshield wipers are going tonight, don’t be surprised if the rain looks a little dirty or muddy.

The dust also is not known to cause major issues to the air quality. The increased tree pollen because of the spring season is still the main culprit of bad allergies.

The good news is the rain will rinse the dust and pollen out of the air. The cooler temperatures in the coming days will also give people suffering with allergies a break.

Sign up for our free deep-dive newsletter, The 4Front, to get standout News4 stories sent right to your inbox. Subscribe here.

Unfortunately, it’s a little more complicated than that: Science says you should scrape the snow off your car as soon as you can once the flakes stop falling.

News4 meteorologist Ryan Miller performed a science experiment Tuesday to show how it works.

By placing one thermometer outside his car, in the freezing weather, and one thermometer inside his car, he showed how much higher temperatures can get in a closed, insulated environment. The difference on Tuesday was almost 10 degrees.

That difference in temperature means that snow on the surface of those warmer structures melts in sunlight. That includes cars, but it also includes driveways and sidewalks.

What does that mean? Snow that melts into liquid before the temperature drops significantly — as its expected to on Tuesday night going into Wednesday — will re-freeze.

Where on Tuesday afternoon the snow was soft, slushy and easy to get off your car roof and windshield, on Wednesday, it could form one big block of ice.

So, before the temperature drops way below freezing after sunset, you might want to go scrape your car and shovel your driveway.

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Main roads clear, but side roads remain icy after winter storm

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D.C. Public Schools and the city’s government offices will open on time Wednesday. But families should expect another snow day for most other school districts in the region.

Read on for more details:

School closings and delays in Maryland for Wednesday, Jan. 8:

Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) will be closed. The school system declared a “code blue” with liberal leave for employees.

Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) will be closed. All after school and evening activities are canceled, and the school district declared a “code yellow” for employees.

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) will be closed. Staff are on a two-hour delay. School officials said some back roads, neighborhood roads and walkways and sidewalks leading to some schools still weren’t cleared as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) will open two hours late Wednesday. Offices will open on time.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will be closed again Wednesday. MCPS offices also will be closed, and all activities, programs and sports on school grounds will be canceled. Emergency personnel should report on time. School officials said persistently cold temperatures and vehicles left in school parking lots are making it difficult for crews to clear snow and ice. MCPS urged people who left their vehicles in parking lots to move them immediately.

“The county continues its efforts to remove snow and ice from public roads, sidewalks, and other critical areas to ensure safe access for everyone. These efforts are essential to address hazards, making sure that our educators and staff can safely reach schools, in order to reopen and allow students to return to school,” MCPS said.

Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) will be closed Wednesday. Offices will also be closed. Only emergency personnel must report to work. Families can pick up means for students at five different county schools. Go here for more information.

St. Mary’s County Public Schools will be closed Wednesday with a “code 2” for staff.

School closings in Virginia for Wednesday, Jan. 8:

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) will be closed for in-person learning and activities. Staff will participate in a virtual workday, dependent on work assignments and locations, the district said. Class times will include virtual teacher-led office hours and asynchronous instruction times, ACPS said.

Culpeper County Public Schools (CCPS) already announced it would close classes for Wednesday. However, Wednesday will be a workday for staff.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will be closed. School offices and central offices will open at 11 a.m. Extracurricular activities are canceled, as well as homebound and home-based instruction. Central and school office 12-month employees should report to work pending safety and childcare concerns, FCPS said.

Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) will be closed and all school-based activities are canceled. Central office staff and district administrators should report to work when it’s safe, the district said.

Fredericksburg City Public Schools will be closed due to road conditions and low temperatures. Essential workers will need to report on time. Twelve-month employees should report at 10 a.m.

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) will be closed. Its administrative offices also will be closed. LCPS said Wednesday afternoon campuses were allowed to reopen at 4 p.m. for scheduled activities. Go here for more information.

Schools will be on a two-hour delay Thursday, and administrative offices will open on time.

Manassas Park City Schools (MPCS) will be closed Wednesday due to remaining snow and ice.

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) will be closed due to poor conditions on some secondary and neighborhood roads. The school district declared a “code green” for students and teachers. Employees pay grade 13 and above, as well as 250-day employees, should report at 10 a.m. “The closure will allow additional time for VDOT to clear neighborhood roads, making them safer for buses,” the school system said.

Stafford County Public Schools will be closed Wednesday.

We’ll share more school closing information as it comes in; check this page for announcements from colleges and private schools.

It was our biggest snowstorm in three years and Storm Team4 has been tracking snow totals since it first touched down Monday morning.

Reagan National recorded 7.2 inches of snow while Dulles had 5.1 inches and BWI-Marshall had 6.6 inches.

Washington D.C. got 8.3 inches of snow and Fort Washington, Maryland in Prince George’s County got 10.5 inches of snow. Manassas Park, Virginia measured up to 9.2 inches of snow.

It’s not a competition, but the standouts from the storm were Benedict, Maryland, with 12.2 inches and Waldorf, Maryland, with 11.9 inches. Some other places in the DMV with high snow amounts were Prince Frederick, Maryland, with 11.6 inches and Independent Hill, Virginia, with 11 inches.

Check out how much snow the D.C. area got by exploring the interactive map below.

Storm Team4 Jan 6

Major winter storm blankets DC area in half a foot of snow or more

Metro (WMATA) Jan 7

Metrobus running limited service Tuesday as snow sticks to side roads

Here are the highest snow totals in other Maryland and Virginia counties according to the National Weather Service:

Maryland

• Anne Arundel County: 10.3 inches in Londontowne, Maryland
• Charles County: 11.9 inches in Waldorf, Maryland
• Montgomery County: 8.3 inches in Potomac, Maryland
• Prince George’s County: 10.5 inches in Fort Washington, Maryland
• St. Marys County: 9.8 inches in Sandgates, Maryland
• Calvert County: 12.2 inches in Benedict, Maryland

Virginia

• Arlington County: 9.3 inches in Falls Church, Virginia
• Fairfax County: 10.6 inches in Alexandria, Virginia
• Fauquier County: 9.6 inches in Broad Run, Virginia
• Loudoun County: 7.6 inches in Ashburn, Virginia
• Prince William County: 10.5 inches in Dale City, Virginia
• Spotsylvania County: 10 inches in Fredericksburg, Virginia
• Stafford County: 10.3 in Stafford, Virginia

Exactly how much snow fell?

Reagan National recorded 7.2 inches of snow while Dulles had 5.1 inches and BWI-Marshall had 6.6 inches. The big winners were Prince Frederick, Maryland, with 11.6 inches and Independent Hill, Virginia, which reported 11 inches. Frederick and Washington counties in northern Maryland were on the low end with 4 to 5 inches.

With the snowstorm gone, concern turns to icy or slick conditions on roads. Metrobus will run on a limited schedule on Tuesday because of the snow.

Roads could remain dangerous when it’s cold enough for slush to freeze. While most major roads have been cleared, some side roads were still covered in snow on Tuesday morning.

“The best thing to do if you can and don’t have to go anywhere, just stay home, and give us the room to work,” said Danny King with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation.

Maryland State Police responded to more than 200 crashes and 300 vehicles left unattended as the snow came down on Monday.

DC prepares for freeze

The rest of the week is expected to be frigid, Storm Team4 says, with 30 to 40 miles per hour winds on Tuesday and below-freezing windchill.

Storm Team4 is also tracking another potential storm on Saturday.

Which school districts will be closed?

Many school districts will be closed on Tuesday, including D.C. Public Schools.

In Virginia, Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, Prince William County and Stafford County Public Schools will all be closed.

In Maryland, Calvert County, Charles County, Prince George’s County, Montgomery County and St. Mary’s County Public Schools will also all be closed. Frederick County Public Schools still has a two hour delay listed on their website.

You can find a full list of school closures here.

Other closures

The National Zoo and Smithsonian museums will be closed on Tuesday.

Navigating the roads

Those who do not have to drive are still being encouraged to stay off the roads, which will also allow local departments of transportation to work on the roads.

“Don’t overdrive the conditions, slow down, take your time and make sure you give the plow truck drivers and everything plenty of space to operate,” King said.

If you’re walking, it is still safest to use the sidewalk, even if it is covered in snow.

Making travel plans

While Metro trains will be running as normal, WMATA says Metro buses will operate under severe snow service plan Tuesday, which means it will reduce the number of bus routes from 193 to 42.

Hundreds of flights were canceled Monday to and from Reagan National Airport, Dulles and BWI.

Reagan National Airport had closed the runways Monday night to prevent refreezing but are expected to reopen Tuesday morning.

Freezing temperatures

As temperatures dip, the risk increases for water main breaks.

There are some things you can do to prevent the pipes in your home from freezing:

• Shut off valves to outdoor faucets
• Drain and disconnect outdoor hoses
• If pipes burst, call a plumber

However, what you’ll likely see on your car Friday morning isn’t pollen. It’s actually dust.

What’s happening?

The damaging high winds, tornadoes and dust storms that swept through parts of the central and southwest U.S. earlier this month are moving to the East Coast.

Residents in Chicago also experienced dirty rain with some posting photos of their vehicles covered in mud spots.  

Why is this happening?

As dust mixes in with strong storms, it causes the storm to rain dust leading to muddy or dirty rain.

The dirtier and dustier air is primarily in central and Northern Virginia.

What should you do?

As the windshield wipers are going tonight, don’t be surprised if the rain looks a little dirty or muddy.

The dust also is not known to cause major issues to the air quality. The increased tree pollen because of the spring season is still the main culprit of bad allergies.

The good news is the rain will rinse the dust and pollen out of the air. The cooler temperatures in the coming days will also give people suffering with allergies a break.

Sign up for our free deep-dive newsletter, The 4Front, to get standout News4 stories sent right to your inbox. Subscribe here.

However, what you’ll likely see on your car Friday morning isn’t pollen. It’s actually dust.

What’s happening?

The damaging high winds, tornadoes and dust storms that swept through parts of the central and southwest U.S. earlier this month are moving to the East Coast.

Residents in Chicago also experienced dirty rain with some posting photos of their vehicles covered in mud spots.  

Why is this happening?

As dust mixes in with strong storms, it causes the storm to rain dust leading to muddy or dirty rain.

The dirtier and dustier air is primarily in central and Northern Virginia.

What should you do?

As the windshield wipers are going tonight, don’t be surprised if the rain looks a little dirty or muddy.

The dust also is not known to cause major issues to the air quality. The increased tree pollen because of the spring season is still the main culprit of bad allergies.

The good news is the rain will rinse the dust and pollen out of the air. The cooler temperatures in the coming days will also give people suffering with allergies a break.

Sign up for our free deep-dive newsletter, The 4Front, to get standout News4 stories sent right to your inbox. Subscribe here.

The D.C. region’s first snowstorm of 2025 saw many areas get 6-12 inches of snow that brought school and government closures, dangerous road conditions and transportation troubles. Many school closures will continue into Tuesday, and those who don’t need to drive are still being encouraged to stay off the roads.

This live blog has ended. For the most recent winter storm coverage, click here.

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

The D.C. region’s first major winter storm of the season is underway, and it’s expected to pack a punch with several inches likely in the metro area.

That massive storm system moved in late Sunday night, bringing impactful snow throughout Monday.

Several major school districts have canceled classes for Monday, and Amtrak has canceled dozens of trains along its Northeast Corridor.

The National Weather Service declared a Winter Storm Warning for the region starting Sunday at 10 p.m. through Tuesday at 1 a.m. See all weather alerts here.

How much snow will DC, Maryland and Virginia get?

Expected snow totals have increased as Storm Team4 continues to track the storm.

The D.C. metro area, central Maryland and Northern Virginia could get about 6″-12″ of snow. If the precipitation stays all snow, we could see possibly a foot in some locations.

Off toward the west, around the Blue Ridge Mountains, we could see about 8″-12″ or even higher.

Lower amounts are expected farther north. Near the Maryland/Pennsylvania border, about 3″-6″ of snow are expected, with the possibility for a mix with some freezing rain and sleet.

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Storm Team4 1 hour ago

Storm Team4 Forecast: Light scattered rain on cloudy Thursday before rainout Friday

Winter Storm Warning issued for much of the region

In addition to the National Weather Service’s Winter Storm Warning, Storm Team4 also has declared a Weather Alert.

We’re expecting to see snow falling for hours, Storm Team4 Meteorologist Jessica Faith said. Storm Team4 Meteorologist Clay Anderson is calling the snowstorm an “all-day event.” Snowfall could be heavy at times, and all that precipitation will have a big impact, making travel difficult, decreasing visibility and creating icy conditions.

The snow is expected to begin late Sunday, with the highest snowfall rates overnight Sunday into Monday morning. It may mix with sleet in some areas Monday morning to afternoon, especially along the Interstate 66 corridor, the weather service said.

Roads, bridges and overpasses will likely be slippery, making travel difficult throughout the Monday morning and evening commutes. Officials in D.C., Maryland and Virginia are asking people to avoid travel during the snowfall if possible.

Wet, heavy snow or freezing rain could topple branches and trees, causing power outages.

Several school districts cancel classes; Smithsonians closed

Smithsonian museums in the D.C. area and the National Zoo will be closed to the public. The National Children’s Museum will also be closed Monday.

Several major school districts have canceled classes:

In the District:

D.C. Public Schools will also be closed on Monday, Mayor Bowser announced during a news conference on Sunday.

In Virginia:

• Alexandria City Public Schools will be closed Monday, with no virtual learning.
• Arlington County Schools announced that classrooms and offices will be closed on Monday.
• Fairfax County Public Schools will also be closed.
• Culpeper County Public Schools announced all classrooms and offices will be closed Monday. Classes will also be canceled Tuesday for students, but it will be a workday for staff.

In Maryland:

• Montgomery County Public Schools will be closed Monday.
• Prince George’s County Public Schools will also be closed.

More closures are likely Monday and could also be possible again Tuesday. NBC4 will share any other school closures as they’re announced on this page.

State of Emergency declared in Virginia; State of Preparedness in Maryland; Snow Emergency in D.C.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a State of Emergency ahead of the winter storm, encouraging people to adjust travel plans to stay off the roads during the snow.

“I am declaring a state of emergency for the incoming winter storm currently forecasted to impact Virginia starting Sunday, and I’m encouraging all Virginians, visitors, and travelers to stay alert, monitor the weather forecast, and prepare now for any potential impacts,” Youngkin said in a statement. “… If you find yourself needing to be on the roadways, please heed any warnings and make sure you are keeping yourselves and others safe. Our pre-treating preparations are underway and substantial state and local resources will continue to actively monitor the forecast and respond through the weekend.”

In Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore declared a State of Preparedness for Sunday through Monday.

“Marylanders are cautioned to avoid travel if possible, to follow local forecasts, and to stay prepared for winter storm hazards,” a release from Moore’s office said.

Moore warned residents that roads will be icy, and people should avoid travel if possible. Anyone who does need to go anywhere should be extremely careful.

In Montgomery County, a declaration of snow emergency begins at midnight Monday. Parking will be prohibited along county roads marked as snow emergency routes and in county parking lots designated as snow emergency lots. All vehicles should be parked off-street in driveways or garages; cars that must park on a street should be on odd-numbered sides of the street Monday and moved to the even-numbered side Tuesday (if the snow emergency is still in effect). Fees for county parking garages will be waived; residents are encouraged to use them for off-street parking.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a Snow Emergency through the end of the day on Tuesday. The District Snow Team has been deployed and crews are applying salt brine to snow emergency routes.

“Drivers are asked to move vehicles off the routes as soon as possible. Beginning Sunday evening at 9:00 p.m., vehicles still parked along snow emergency routes will be relocated,” a release from Bowser’s office said.

If your vehicle is towed, check here to find it.

The District also activated a Cold Weather Emergency. If you need help getting somewhere warm or see someone outside needing shelter, call D.C.’s shelter hotline at 202-399-7093 or dial 311. If there is an immediate risk to safety, call 911.

Federal offices closed

Federal offices in the D.C. will be closed Monday, according to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Remote and telework employees are still expected to work, and emergency employees are expected to report to their worksite unless otherwise directed.

Non-telework employees will generally be granted weather and safety leave unless they are on official travel outside their station or on an alternative work schedule, OPM said.

DC, Maryland, Virginia crews prepare for snow

As crews across the region get ready, we’ve already seen plows and salt trucks out all over the place.

The Virginia Department of Transportation said teams in Northern Virginia were pretreating interstates, primary roads and high-volume secondary roads, as well as bridges, ramps and overpasses.

Officials asked travelers to get to their destinations by Sunday afternoon, and after that, to delay all non-essential travel until after the snow. Any drivers should make sure their vehicles contain emergency supplies.

“Be prepared for a multi-day response to this storm,” VDOT said. Crews will treat interstates first, then primary routes and high-volume secondary roads, and residential streets last.

Virginia State Police were adjusting the number of state troopers on the roads Sunday and Monday because of the storm.

Prince George’s County in Maryland has a map that can be used to see which roads have been treated. Roads marked green have been serviced within the last eight hours; roads shown in blue have been serviced within the last eight to 24 hours, roads that are yellow have been serviced within the last 24 to 48 hours, and roads that are red have not been serviced within 48 hours.

In D.C., the District Snow Team has been deployed, and crews began pretreating roads on all snow emergency routes. Other crews pretreated D.C. government properties, including sidewalks, driveways and entryways at police stations, fire stations, shelters and schools.

While you’re out shoveling and salting, you can also lend a hand to your neighbors. The DC volunteer snow program links people who want to help with residents who can’t shovel their own walkways or driveways. Visit snowteam.dc.gov, and choose whether you’d like to volunteer or if you’re a resident who could use the help. People will be paired with others from their own neighborhood. Volunteers can even get the tools they need for free to get the job done.

Amtrak canceling dozens of trains

Amtrak announced dozens Northeast Regional and Acela trains will be canceled. In addition to several cancellations Sunday, here are service changes for Monday and Tuesday:

Monday, Jan. 6:

Acela between Boston and D.C.:

• Trains 2103, 2107, 2108, 2121, 2122 and 2124 canceled
• Trains 2150, 2154, 2168, 2170 and 2172 canceled between D.C. and New York
• Trains 2151, 2153, 2155, 2159 and 2173 canceled between New York and D.C.

Northeast Regional between Boston and D.C.:

• Train 141, 94 and 95 canceled between Norfolk and D.C.
• Train 171 canceled between Roanoke and D.C.
• Train 125 canceled between D.C. and Newport News.
• Train 93 canceled between New York and Norfolk.
• Train 174 canceled between Richmond and D.C.
• Trains 170, 130, 172, 112, 182, 84, 86, 134, 138, 66, 151, 181, 119, 131, 193, 197, 175, 179 and 85 canceled

Carolinian (between Charlotte and New York):

• Trains 79 and 80 canceled between New York and Raleigh

Tuesday, Jan. 7:

Northeast Regional (between Boston and Washington):

• Train 86 canceled between Richmond and D.C.
• Train 84 canceled between Norfolk and D.C.

Amtrak officials said they’ll waive additional charges for travelers looking to change their reservations during the modified schedule. Passengers should call 1-800-USA-RAIL and can follow @AmtrakNECAlerts on X for service alerts regarding the Northeast Corridor.

Safety tips for driving during snowfall

If you must travel during the snowfall, Virginia officials are sharing the following safety tips:

• Use headlights. Increasing your visibility helps you to see slick spots on the road and helps other drivers see you better.
• Keep your speed down. “Slowing your speed gives you more time to safely react and avoid a crash,” officials said. “Drive your vehicle based on your ability to properly maintain control of your vehicle.”
• Don’t tailgate. You need more distance from other vehicles when driving on slippery roads.
• Wear your seatbelt. “Most crashes that occur during winter weather are caused by vehicles sliding into guardrails, off the road or other vehicles,” officials said. “Wearing your seat belt protects you from being thrown around the inside of your vehicle and suffering serious injury in a crash.”
• Make sure your vehicle is in good working order. Fill up your gas tank tank in advance. Check your windshield wipers, windshield wiper fluid, tire treads and battery life.
• Pack winter travel safety items. You should have a window scraper, blankets, bottled water, snacks, a cell phone charger and a flashlight.

Winter weather safety and snow prep tips

The D.C. government shared these tips ahead of the snow:

• Make sure you have a snow shovel.
• Check and put down your supply of abrasives – deicer, rock salt or non-clumping kitty litter – and get more if necessary.
• Avoid driving during the worst part of the storm. If possible, only travel during daylight, don’t travel alone and stick to main roads.
• Check medications. Make sure you have enough over-the-counter and prescription medications for yourself and any family members or pets.
• Clear leaves from your gutters. Call 311 to report any clogged storm drains or other non-emergency hazards.
• Check smoke/CO detectors. Install a battery-operated or battery back-up carbon monoxide detector in your home and/or replace the batteries in existing devices.
• Be safe indoors. Don’t use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove or other gasoline-burning device inside your home, basement or garage.
• Prevent pipes from freezing by allowing a small trickle of water to drip.

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

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Not much snow stuck Friday, but with temperatures dropping below freezing, standing water and slush is expected to turn to ice.

Storm Team4 is under a winter weather advisory at least through Monday. Here’s a full list of weather alerts.

Frederick County Public Schools in Maryland closed two hours early Friday in anticipation of the wintry weather. All after-school and evening activities are canceled or postponed, the school system said. Here’s a full list of closures and delays.

The region will be cold, mostly sunny and windy Saturday.

Sunday to Monday forecast: Accumulating snow and travel impacts

The next storm likely will impact Monday’s commute. The snowstorm could arrive late Sunday.

Accumulating snow is likely, especially into the day on Monday. At times, a wintry mix of rain and ice could be in play.

Snow totals could reach 3 to 6 inches for much of the D.C. area, according to Storm Team4’s current forecast.

“This is what I am confident in: We will see accumulating snow on Monday,” Meteorologist Jessica Faith said. “There will be inches of snow.”

Mixed precipitation is possible, such as a period of sleet or some freezing rain, which is hazardous on the roads. Whatever type of precipitation falls is expected to stick to the ground because of cold temperatures.

Culpeper County Public Schools has already closed school for students Monday and Tuesday.

Snow totals will vary based on where the storm system sets up. If it’s further north, the D.C. area could have lower snow totals because we can have more mixed precipitation. If it’s more south, we could pretty much have all snow.

Next week is expected to be sunny, but cold, with highs near 30° through next weekend.

Snow preparations underway in DC, Maryland and Virginia

D.C. snow crews began pretreating roads on the city’s snow emergency routes Thursday evening, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said.

Twenty-one brine trucks pretreated roads using a mixture of salt, beet juice and water from 6 p.m. Thursday until 6 a.m. Friday, Bowser’s office said in a news release.

The snow team partially deployed on Friday from noon to midnight, with 34 heavy plows to treat highways, streets, bridges, ramps and other elevated structures. Ten pick-up truck plows treat smaller streets, the release said.

“The best thing that a driver can do is if you don’t need to be on the road when it can be slick or snowy, is avoid the road. We always want you to think about the route you’re taking and take your time,” said Clint Osborn with the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency

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Snow plow crews with the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) could be seen prepping on Thursday.

MDOT SHA says Maryland residents can track snow plows and trucks near them using this online tool that shows where the plows are in real-time.

Virginia Department of Transportation crews will pretreat interstates, primary roads, high-volume secondary roads, bridges, ramps and overpasses with salt brine Saturday and will be out treating as snow develops, VDOT said.

“Keep your eyes on the forecast, check your emergency kit and remember to plan travel around the storm, not during the storm,” VDOT said on X.

First, the bad news: It’s not looking like we’ll see all that many snowflakes this year.

Now, here’s the good news (again, assuming you’re a fan of snow): We’re not ruling out the possibility of a white Christmas.

Factors for predicting snowfall

This winter, the D.C. area is heading into what looks like a weak La Niña.

La Niña is a cooling of the waters in the equatorial Pacific, which has a big influence on weather patterns around the world. Typically, a weak La Niña means less snow for our region — and that’s what we’re forecasting.

Taking a look at all the weak La Niñas in D.C. history, those winters have averaged 9.7″ of snow for the area, much lower than our average annual snowfall of about 13.7″.

The coldest months this winter

Overall, expect this to be a warmer than average winter, but we should still get several bouts of cold temps — and it could get really cold at times.

The months with the greatest chance for major cold this winter are December and February. This could lead to a higher than normal chance of a white Christmas.

How much snow the DC area could get this winter

This will be an active winter regarding storms. As for the type of storms, though, they’ll likely be moving up from the south. Storms coming from the south tend to bring warmer air along with them.

If enough cold air is in place, we could get several snow-to-rain or rain-to-snow events. If that’s the case, however, the impact of those storms would be fairly light.

So, while we’re not expecting storms to have a huge impact on our region this winter, if it gets cold enough, we could see road issues.

This year, Storm Team4 is predicting 6″-13″ of snow in Washington, D.C., so this is a below-average forecast. Areas to the south and east of the metro area could get 2-6″, while areas just to the west should get 13″-20″ of snow.

Pat and Doug’s 2024-25 Snow Stick Challenge

Don’t miss your chance to win a Pat Collins Snow Stick!

Tell us what date and time you think the first inch of snow will fall at Reagan National Airport this season. If your guess is the closest without going past the time and date, you could win a Pat Collins Snow Stick.

Submit your guess here.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer shared the splendor on X, taking advantage of it to remind people to check their smoke alarms.

The rare sight was possible due to a big solar storm, Storm Team4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer said.

It was viewable as far south as Alabama and Florida, Kammerer said.

Scroll or swipe to see more photos:

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Storm Team4 Meteorologist Chuck Bell said it’s important to stay weather alert during the sweletering heat. Wear light, loose-fitting clothing, drink plenty of water and limit time outdoors, especially if you’re doing strenuous activities.

Temperatures climbed into the mid-90s by about 1:30 p.m., and the heat index reached 103° in Washington, D.C.

There’s a very small chance for storms. Any storms that pop up during the day could turn severe because of the heat.

The good news? This sky-high heat will start to subside by Thursday, although humidity will stick around into Labor Day weekend.

Heat advisories in D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia

A heat advisory has been issued for the afternoon and early evening in D.C., plus much of Maryland and Northern Virginia. The heat index could be at 105° or higher for several hours, Bell said.

Maryland counties under a heat advisory include Charles, Montgomery and Prince George’s. In Virginia, heat advisories were issued for Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun counties plus nearby cities.

See a full list of weather alerts here.

Air quality alerts

On top of the hot weather, there is poor air quality around the area.

A code orange air quality alert is in effect for D.C. and surrounding areas, which means members of sensitive groups should be extra careful.

Those vulnerable to to air pollution include people with chronic health issues, children and the elderly, but bad pollution can affect healthy people, too.

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You can check which air quality code was issued in your area and the best tips for staying safe here.

Try your best to limit time outside, reduce strenuous activities like exercise, shorten dog walks and stay hydrated.

School and other local schedule changes due to heat

School is back in session and many districts are grappling with the extreme heat by keeping students inside.

Arlington Public Schools announced that there will be no outdoor recess or other outdoor activities during school hours. After-school activities like athletics will move indoors.

Prince William County Public School announced that all outdoor activities must move inside or be canceled between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Vienna, Virginia, is starting its solid waste collection to begin one hour earlier. Residents are advised to place trash and recycling by the curb at 5 a.m.

Residents of College Park, Maryland should put their trash out earlier too. Solid waste collection will start an hour earlier at 6 a.m.

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

Those most vulnerable to air pollution include people with chronic health issues, children and the elderly, but bad pollution can affect healthy people, too. When the air quality is poor, experts advise staying inside, especially during strenuous activity like exercise.

Here’s how to check the air quality today in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, plus tips on staying safe.

What’s the air quality where I live today?

You can check the air quality in your part of the D.C. area using the interactive map below.

The data in the map refreshes itself daily.

For hourly updates based on zip code or city, you can also go to AirNow.gov.

What do the different air quality codes mean?

The Environmental Protection Agency monitors how polluted or clear the air is with the Air Quality Index, or AQI. The scale runs from 0 to 500, and the higher the AQI, the more pollution there is in the air.

Each range on the AQI is given a color. Green is the zero to 50 part of the range, and qualifies as “Good” air quality; yellow is 51 to 100, and qualifies as “Moderate” air.

Code orange ranges from 101 to 150, and means the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups, like children and elderly adults, or people with asthma and other chronic respiratory conditions.

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People are moving out of cities with poor air quality — but many end up facing other climate risks

A code red, which ranges from 151 to 200, is unhealthy for everyone.

Code purple means everyone is at greater risk of health impacts. Once you get to maroon, which is 301 and higher, the effects on everyone’s health reach emergency levels, and people are more likely to be sickened.

See the chart below for the full range of the AQI.

How could bad air quality affect my health?

The effects of air pollution on the human body vary based on factors including the type of pollution, the length of exposure, health care access and individual health, according to the American Lung Association.

Short-term exposure to air pollution is linked to reduced lung function, asthma, cardiac problems, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a division of the National Institutes of Health.

Over the long term, pollution is linked to serious diseases including cancer, lung disease and heart disease, the NIEHS said.

How can I stay safe during air quality alerts?

The best way to protect yourself from the negative health effects of wildfire smoke is to avoid breathing it in – which means staying inside as much as possible.

When air quality is poor, for example, it’s a good idea to hit the gym instead if you typically work out outside. Air quality alert days are also not the best times to bring your kids to the park or the pool, especially if they have allergies, asthma, or chronic health issues.

Pets should also stay inside when the air is unhealthy.

“Other mammals, they suffer from many of the same lung conditions that humans do,” Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist and immunologist at the Allergy & Asthma Network, told NBC News.

If the air quality reaches code red or code purple levels, it’s a good idea to use the “recirculate” air button in your car, Storm Team4 Meteorologist Chuck Bell said.

“This keeps the outside air OUT and keeps sending the inside air through the filters,” he said.

If you need extra protection from smoky conditions, the Centers for Disease Control recommends finding a room you can seal off from outside air. Consider a portable air cleaner or a filter to keep that room clean.

There are ways to create an air filter yourself using a box fan and furnace filters you can purchase at most grocery stores.

Respirators, like N95s, can help reduce your smoke exposure if you have to be outside in poor air quality conditions, according to the CDC.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) suggests trying to cut your own contribution to pollutants during poor air quality days. Its suggestions are:

• Avoid lawn mowing or use an electric mower.
• Use gas or electric grills instead of charcoal.
• Fill your vehicles’ gas tank after sunset.
• Take transit, carpool, or work from home.
• Turn off lights and electronics when not in use and follow tips from your electric utility about how to use less electricity to cool your home.

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The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby hit the Washington, D.C., area with heavy rain, flooding and a risk of tornadoes.

Most severe weather threats of the storm ended by Friday afternoon, but Storm Team4 said there’s still the potential for spots of heavy rain through the evening. However, the risks for more flooding or tornado watches are over.

LIST: See all weather alerts here.

As Tropical Storm Debby bears down on the East Coast, the storm’s remnants bring heavy rain and possibly flooding to the D.C. area. What’s left of Debby will have the greatest effects through Friday morning. Be prepared for downpours, potential flooding and a small risk of tornadoes.

A tornado watch is in effect until 7 a.m. for D.C. and several counties in Maryland: Montgomery, Prince George’s, Washington and St. Mary’s. There’s also a flood warning in effect until 11:15 a.m. (See more details and other weather alerts below.)

Prince George’s County handed out sandbags to residents Thursday, a day after Alexandria did the same. The Maryland Department of Emergency Management said it’s enhanced its emergency preparations stance, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency to mobilize equipment and resources.

Tornado watch issued for the DC area until Friday at 7 a.m.

A tornado watch is in effect until 7 a.m. for D.C.; several counties in Maryland — Montgomery, Prince George’s, Washington and St. Mary’s — and in Northern Virginia for the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Manassas, Manassas Park and Falls Church, plus the counties of Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William and Stafford.

A tornado warning was in effect in Northern Virginia in Fauquier County, Loudoun County, Frederick County and Central Clake County until 10:15 p.m. on Thursday.

In Maryland, a tornado warning was issued for central Montgomery County until 6 p.m. Thursday, and early Friday, one was issued for Charles County, Maryland, but was cancelled about 5 a.m.

Flood watch issued in Maryland and Virginia

Keep an umbrella handy Thursday. Steady rain was already falling as of midday in D.C. More rain is expected to pick up overnight, and the worst downpours are expected Friday morning.

Heavy rain could quickly lead to flash and urban flooding, especially in areas prone to flooding like Alexandria, Virginia. Make sure your gutters and storm drains are clear.

Flood watches have been issued for some areas west of the District. Frederick, Maryland, and parts of Northern Virginia, including western Loudoun County and northern Fauquier County, will be under a flood watch from Thursday evening to Friday evening, the National Weather Service said.

Go here to see all weather alerts.

Storm Team4 says areas closer to the D.C. metro area could get flood watches as well. However, the rain is needed after D.C.’s dry summer.

“In our area, this is needed rain. Certainly, there could be some isolated flooding but nothing like what they’re seeing down into parts of the Carolinas,” Storm Team4 Meteorologist Amelia Draper said.

Weather Radar

Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.

There’s a “non-zero chance” for tornadoes as the remnants of the tropical storm near the D.C. area. Keep an eye out for tornado watches and warnings, and make a plan in case severe weather hits your neighborhood.

The rough weather could impact any travel plans.

Heavy rain and potential floods could slow drivers Thursday night and into Friday. Never drive into a flooded road. Remember: Turn around, don’t down.

Severe weather Aug 7, 2024

Tracking Debby: What the DC area can expect from the storm

Virginia Aug 6, 2024

Virginia state of emergency declared ahead of Tropical Storm Debby's arrival

Wind restrictions are possible on the Bay Bridge. This storm could also have ripple effects on air travel, so check with your airline before heading to the airport.

The good news? This storm won’t last too long. By Saturday, sunshine is expected to return, along with breezy conditions and highs in the 80s.

How can I prepare for Tropical Storm Debby?

• Make sure storm drains and gutters are clear
• Secure outdoor items such as trash cans and lawn chairs that could get knocked down or blown away
• Keep phones, tablets and laptops charged and have backup charging devices ready
• Have household and food supplies on hand, including medications and pet food
• Make sure cars are serviced and have a full tank of gas
• Have a family emergency plan in place in case of severe flooding and for potential future emergencies

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The D.C. area is getting ready for Tropical Storm Debby as it continues its crawl up the East Coast.

A foot of rain has already fallen in some places down South, flooding streets and homes in Georgia and South Carolina.

While the storm will be far less severe for the D.C. region, there’s still the potential for flooding.

Here’s what we know so far about the storm’s timing, how much rainfall to expect and what the region is doing to prepare.

When is Debby expected to reach the D.C. area?

Storm Team4 Meteorologist Amelia Draper said the heaviest rainfall will move through from Thursday night into Friday. Most rain will move out by late Friday night.

How much rain will the D.C. area get from Tropical Storm Debby?

Overall, Draper said Debby will be good for the region, bringing 2 to 4 total inches of rain.

“In our area, this is needed rain. Certainly, there could be some isolated flooding but nothing like what they’re seeing down into parts of the Carolinas,” Draper said.

Future weather models show the Shenandoah Valley taking the brunt of the storm at times.

“While this might look a little ominous, for the Shenandoah Valley … this is the best news as they cope with the worst drought they’ve seen there in decades,” Draper said.

Storm Team4 1 hour ago

Storm Team4 Forecast: Light scattered rain on cloudy Thursday before rainout Friday

Extreme Weather Aug 8, 2024

Debby makes second landfall in South Carolina, heavy rain expected up the East Coast

What are the main concerns for the D.C. area?

Isolated flooding and some tidal flooding are possible, especially in areas like Alexandria, Virginia, that are prone to flooding.

Storm Team4 expects most of the D.C. area will be under a flood watch at some point.

As of Thursday morning, a flood watch was issued for areas west of D.C., including parts of Loudoun and Fauquier counties in Virginia and Frederick County, Maryland. Here’s a full list of weather alerts.

There’s also a low tornado risk, mainly on Friday, Draper said.

Draper said, however, that winds are not a big concern with this storm as gusts are expected to reach up to 25 miles an hour.

What is the DC area doing to prepare for Debby?

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed a State of Preparedness declaration Tuesday in preparation for any potential inland and tidal flooding.

In Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency to easily free up resources for any areas that might be hit hard by flooding.

The city of Alexandria urged residents to prepare ahead of the storm and crews handed out sandbags to homeowners and businesses on Wednesday.

How can I prepare for Tropical Storm Debby?

• Make sure storm drains and gutters are clear
• Secure outdoor items such as trash cans and lawn chairs that could get knocked down or blown away
• Keep cell phones, tablets and laptops charged and have backup charging devices ready
• Have household and food supplies on hand, including medications and pet food
• Make sure cars are serviced and have a full tank of gas
• Have a family emergency plan in place in case of severe flooding, and for potential future emergencies

It’s possible Debby could bring heavy rain, flooding, strong winds and storm surge to Virginia, according to Youngkin’s office.

Storm Team4 says the storm could affect the Washington, D.C., area between Thursday night and Saturday morning, but keep an eye on the forecast as we learn more about the storm’s track.

Prolonged downpours and flooding hammered the southeastern United States on Tuesday, and Debby was expected to hover over the Atlantic Ocean for the next few days before boomeranging back onto the mainland, the Associated Press reported.

Alexandria, Virginia, residents and businesses can get up to five free sandbags on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at three locations.

The Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) is actively monitoring the storm and anticipates it could move into Virginia as early as Wednesday evening.

Youngkin’s office said the state of emergency allows the Commonwealth to mobilize resources and equipment in case response and recovery efforts are needed.

“As we prepare for Tropical Storm Debby, I urge all Virginians and visitors to stay informed, follow local emergency guidelines, and take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their families and communities,” Youngkin said in a news release.

Storm Team4 Meteorologist Amelia Draper expects the D.C. area will get about 2 to 4 inches of rainfall once Debby moves north. Most of the moisture from the storm will hit the region Thursday into Friday, she said Tuesday afternoon.

Go here for Storm Team4’s latest forecast.

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However, what you’ll likely see on your car Friday morning isn’t pollen. It’s actually dust.

What’s happening?

The damaging high winds, tornadoes and dust storms that swept through parts of the central and southwest U.S. earlier this month are moving to the East Coast.

Residents in Chicago also experienced dirty rain with some posting photos of their vehicles covered in mud spots.  

Why is this happening?

As dust mixes in with strong storms, it causes the storm to rain dust leading to muddy or dirty rain.

The dirtier and dustier air is primarily in central and Northern Virginia.

What should you do?

As the windshield wipers are going tonight, don’t be surprised if the rain looks a little dirty or muddy.

The dust also is not known to cause major issues to the air quality. The increased tree pollen because of the spring season is still the main culprit of bad allergies.

The good news is the rain will rinse the dust and pollen out of the air. The cooler temperatures in the coming days will also give people suffering with allergies a break.

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However, what you’ll likely see on your car Friday morning isn’t pollen. It’s actually dust.

What’s happening?

The damaging high winds, tornadoes and dust storms that swept through parts of the central and southwest U.S. earlier this month are moving to the East Coast.

Residents in Chicago also experienced dirty rain with some posting photos of their vehicles covered in mud spots.  

Why is this happening?

As dust mixes in with strong storms, it causes the storm to rain dust leading to muddy or dirty rain.

The dirtier and dustier air is primarily in central and Northern Virginia.

What should you do?

As the windshield wipers are going tonight, don’t be surprised if the rain looks a little dirty or muddy.

The dust also is not known to cause major issues to the air quality. The increased tree pollen because of the spring season is still the main culprit of bad allergies.

The good news is the rain will rinse the dust and pollen out of the air. The cooler temperatures in the coming days will also give people suffering with allergies a break.

Sign up for our free deep-dive newsletter, The 4Front, to get standout News4 stories sent right to your inbox. Subscribe here.

D.C. reached 104° Tuesday. Heat indices surpassed 110° in some places across the DMV.

Now, a severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for D.C. and the suburbs until 10 p.m. There could be isolated severe storms through the evening.

Storms could produce wind gusts up to 70 mph, heavy rain downpours in spots and possibly small hail. Tornadoes are not likely.

Metro, MARC and VRE trains operated with speed restrictions Tuesday because of the heat. Metro limited above-ground train speeds to 35 mph across the system as rail temperatures topped 135°, the agency said. The extreme heat can make the rails expand.

Storm Team4 issued a weather alert, and another excessive heat warning was in effect through 8 p.m.

High heat and humidity may result in heat-related illnesses. Stay hydrated, limit strenuous activity outside and find ways to stay cool today.

Excessive heat warnings are in effect for D.C. and parts of Maryland and Virginia, including Prince George’s, Montgomery, Arlington and Fairfax counties. Go here to see all weather alerts.

There is a chance for a few isolated showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday afternoon and evening. Any storms that develop could be severe, like Monday’s storms.

Weather Radar

Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.

Excessive heat throughout midweek

Wednesday will still be hot, but less sweltering with temperatures in the 90s. More rain is expected on Wednesday, but the good news is that cooler air will come in behind the rain. Expect another severe thunderstorm watch Wednesday afternoon.

You can plan on a little relief from the heat starting Thursday. Then, highs are expected to max out in the upper 80s through Sunday.

That cooldown won’t last long: Expect to face heat advisories or excessive heat warnings again next week.

Heat safety tips

Intense heat can quickly become dangerous. Keep an eye on vulnerable groups including newborns, infants, children and the elderly.

“Heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year,” the National Weather Service says.

To stay safe in the heat, stay hydrated and opt for water and sports drinks over sugary beverages. Take shade breaks. Know how to respond to signs of heat-related illness. Avoid strenuous outdoor activities, or move them to the cooler morning hours.

Never leave a pet or kids alone in a parked car. Temperatures in cars can rise to lethal levels within minutes, even with the windows cracked, according to KidsandCars.org.

Wearing loose, light-colored clothing can also help you stay cool.

D.C. says it declares a heat emergency when temperatures or the heat index reach 95°. Cooling centers open during a heat emergency, here’s how to find a cooling center plus free transport.

Spray parks and public pools are another way to cool down.

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Where can you find a cooling center?

Cooling centers are available in D.C., Virginia and Maryland.

In D.C., free transportation to cooling centers is available by calling 202-399-7093 or 311; find other D.C. resources here.

Arlington County is offering shelters and resources during the heat wave. Financial assistance with air conditioning repairs is available by calling 703-228-1350. Shelter for homeless individuals is available by calling 703-228-1010. Find more information here.

Find cooling centers in Alexandria here.

Montgomery County has issued a heat emergency alert starting at 11 a.m. Thursday, lasting until 9 p.m. Saturday; find resources for the county here.

Find cooling centers in Prince George’s County here.

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for D.C. and surrounding areas in Maryland and Virginia. Storms have the potential to be strong to severe with downpours and gusty winds up to 60 mph.

D.C. hit a record-high temperature of 102° on Monday – and it felt like 106° in the afternoon, according to Storm Team4.The last time the region was this hot was July 8, 2012.

If the region hits 101° or hotter tomorrow, it will be three consecutive days at above 101°. This has only happened once before in 1930.

An excessive heat warning was issued for D.C. and parts of Maryland and Virginia, including Prince George’s, Montgomery, Arlington and Fairfax counties. The heat warning will continue through Wednesday, with possible isolated storms Tuesday night and strong to severe storms Wednesday night. Go here to see all weather alerts.

Make sure to practice heat safety and know the signs of heat-related illness. Cooling centers are available in D.C., Virginia and Maryland.

There is also an air quality alert in parts of Maryland, including Prince George’s, Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties. Suburban D.C. is expected to see code yellow air quality on Monday so people sensitive to air quality should take extra precautions. Children, the elderly, those with respiratory issues and other vulnerable populations should not spend a lot of time outdoors. You can check your local air quality on Airnow.gov.

Weather Radar

Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.

Excessive heat throughout midweek

The heat is expected to peak in intensity on Tuesday. Brace for temps just above 100 degrees with feels-like temperatures up to 111 degrees.

More rain is expected on Wednesday, but the good news is that cooler air will come in behind the rain.

You can plan on a little relief from the heat starting Thursday. Then, highs are expected to max out in the upper 80s through Sunday.

That cooldown won’t last long: Expect to face heat advisories or excessive heat warnings again next week.

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Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Everyone is vulnerable to heat-related illnesses but particularly the elderly, children, people who work outside and pets, according to the Prince George’s County Health Department.

If you know someone who needs help, local governments offer resources for people who need relief from heat. Here are links to pages that list cooling centers and other helpful information:

• D.C.
• Maryland: Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and Frederick
• Virginia: Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Loudoun County, Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William County.

NBC4 Washington asked a doctor to explain the signs of heat-related illness and how to protect yourself.

What are the types of heat-related illnesses and signs to watch out for?

Dr. Rachel Marquez, with Kaiser Permanente, said the signs to look out for include developing muscle cramps, nausea, light headaches and fatigue or dizziness.

Heat-related illnesses including heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat cramps may occur with long exposure to heat without relief or hydration, according to Johns Hopkins.

A heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness and a life-threatening emergency, according to Johns Hopkins. It occurs rapidly when a person’s body is unable to properly cool down and can damage the brain and organs. Symptoms include red and dry skin, disorientation, delirium and nausea. If you think someone is suffering from heat stroke, call 911.

Heat exhaustion is less severe, but can turn into heat stroke if not taken seriously. Symptoms include muscle cramps, dizziness, weakness, headaches, nausea, diarrhea and passing out.

If someone is suffering from either heat illness, you can help them by moving them to a cool, dry place, removing excess clothing, trying to cool them down with a fan or cool cloths and offering them a cool drink (a sports drink containing salt and sugar is recommended for cramps and exhaustion.)

Heat exhaustion “can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids,” the Prince George’s County Health Department said.

How can you prevent heat-related illness?

The key is hydration. If exercising, Dr. Marquez recommends drinking water before, during and after.

She said to take extra precautions during high heat periods of the day, typically between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., which can put individuals at an increased risk of developing heat-related illnesses. D.C. often sees some of its hottest temperatures after 4 p.m.

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“One thing that you should remember about heat-related illness is that it can be cumulative,” she said. “So, even if you’re outside, you’re exercising, you’re feeling pretty good and you come inside and you can be very commonly feel run down and the heat-related illness can then affect you after that, so it’s really important to try and stay on top of hydration.”

See below for more tips from the Prince George’s County Health Department:

• Stay hydrated
• Cool off in AC
• Wear lightweight clothes
• Use sunscreen
• Check on vulnerable individuals
• Never leave kids or pets in cars

Where can you find a cooling center?

Cooling centers are available in D.C., Virginia and Maryland.

In D.C., free transportation to cooling centers is available by calling 202-399-7093 or 311; find other D.C. resources here.

Arlington County is offering shelters and resources during the heat wave. Financial assistance with air conditioning repairs is available by calling 703-228-1350. Shelter for homeless individuals is available by calling 703-228-1010. Find more information here.

Find cooling centers in Alexandria here.

Montgomery County has issued a heat emergency alert starting at 11 a.m. Thursday, lasting until 9 p.m. Saturday; find resources for the county here.

Find cooling centers in Prince George’s County here.

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

The advisory will be in effect from noon until 8 p.m. as a high temperature of 94 degrees is expected with a potential heat index over 100.

The combination of heat and humidity increases the threat of heat-related illnesses. People participating in outdoor Independence Day celebrations should beware.

There’s also potential for isolated severe thunderstorms from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., according to Storm Team4. Severe storms could include heavy downpours of rain, dime-size hail and wind gusts stronger than 50 mph, though the threat of tornadoes is low.

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There could be lingering showers or storms after sunrise, but the chances will diminish.

There is also an air quality alert for D.C. and parts of Virginia. Air pollution could become unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children; people with asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases; and the elderly.

See all weather alerts here.

Parts of the D.C. area have reached severe drought conditions.

How to stay cool and safe

Stay hydrated. Drink water, not alcohol or sugary beverages.

Take shade breaks and stay in air conditioning as much as you can.

And wear lightweight, breathable clothes that protect against sun exposure.

For those experiencing homelessness or know someone who is, free and accessible transportation to a cooling center is available by calling the shelter hotline at 202-399-7093 or 311.

If an animal has been left in the heat or trapped in a hot vehicle, the Humane Rescue Alliance can be called at 202-723-5730.

Storm Team4 1 hour ago

Storm Team4 Forecast: Light scattered rain on cloudy Thursday before rainout Friday

Washington DC Jul 19, 2023

It takes just minutes for a hot car to become dangerous

Signs of heat-related illnesses

In hot climates, heat-related illness is a serious risk with serious consequences. Knowing the signs and types of heat-related illnesses can make all the difference.

Heat cramps can sometimes be the first sign of a more serious heat-related illness, like heat exhaustion or heat stroke, according to the National Weather Service. Symptoms include painful cramps or spasms and can be treated by applying firm pressure to the muscle. As long as the person isn’t nauseous, they can also be given water.

If symptoms last for over an hour, worsen or the person vomits, seek medical attention.

Heat exhaustion is marked by a variety of symptoms:

• Heavy sweating
• Weakness or tiredness
• Cool, pale, clammy skin
• Fast, weak pulse
• Muscle cramps
• Dizziness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Headache
• Fainting

If these symptoms last for over an hour, get worse or vomiting occurs, seek immediate medical attention, the National Weather Service says.

Move the person to a cooler area, loosen their clothing, offer sips of water and apply cool, wet cloths or have them sit in a cool bath.

Heatstroke is always a medical emergency and can be fatal if not treated quickly. If heat stroke is suspected, call 911 or get the person to the hospital, said the National Weather Service.

In the meantime, try to reduce their body temperature using cool, wet cloths or a bath. A fan can also be used, but only if the heat index is below 90 degrees, otherwise it could do more harm than good.

The symptoms are not that different than those of heat stroke and can include:

• Headache
• Confusion
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Body temperature above 103 degrees
• Hot, red, dry or damp skin
• Rapid and strong pulse
• Fainting or loss of consciousness.

In order to prevent heat-related illness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests spending time in the air-conditioning — either at home or an air-conditioned public place, wearing loose-fitting clothing and taking cool showers and baths. Using the stove less often can also help make it cooler at home.

They also emphasized that outdoor activities should be scheduled with caution. They should be limited to when it’s coolest, such as in the morning and the evening, with opportunities to rest in the shade.

For the safety of both pets and their owners, pets should be kept inside. If walks are necessary, they should be done early in the morning with lots of water breaks.

Never leave children or pets alone in a vehicle

It’s also important to be aware of the danger posed by hot vehicles. Within 10 minutes, the temperature inside a car can get 19 degrees higher than it is outside, said Storm Team4 Meteorologist Jessica Faith. With temperatures in the 90s, it can be over 100 degrees inside a vehicle.

Cracking a window is not effective in alleviating the heat.

Staying in a hot car can be fatal, with victims often being children or pets.

In 2023, 29 children died of heatstroke in vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

It only takes 15 minutes for an animal to suffer from heat-related illness or death in a vehicle.

Make sure car doors are locked and that keys are out of the reach of children so they aren’t able to get in by themselves. Always lock the doors after leaving the car and check the back seats.

A heat advisory will be in effect for the D.C. region from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and Storm Team4 expects another advisory to be issued Sunday, when the heat index could rise even higher.

Saturday morning will start out 76 degrees and sticky, with the heat index rising to 100 by lunchtime. The high temperature could reach 98 degrees with a heat index of 105.

Sunday will start about 80 degrees and could again reach 98 — which would be a record for June 23 — with a heat index of 106.

Isolated storms are possible over the weekend — and they could be severe — but most of the area will remain dry. Storm Team4 predicts a 20% chance of rain Saturday, 30% Sunday and 40% Monday.

The region could use the rain. It’s abnormally dry, and some moderate drought conditions are showing up in areas of Virginia.

Cancellations due to extreme heat

Metro trains are running slower above ground because the rails are so hot, and some events have been canceled.

Montgomery County closed some outdoor activities, like the train at Cabin John Park.

Alexandria canceled Saturday’s Portside Festival in Old Town.  

Arlington canceled all outdoor parks and recreation programming from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.

How to stay cool and safe

Stay hydrated. Drink water, not alcohol or sugary beverages. Take shade breaks and stay in air conditioning as much as you can. Wear lightweight, breathable clothes that protect you from sun exposure.

In response to the intensifying heat wave, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser extended the heat emergency through the weekend and into next week. Residents can find the nearest cooling centers here.

For those experiencing homelessness or know someone who is, free and accessible transportation to a cooling center is available by calling the shelter hotline at 202-399-7093 or 311.

If an animal has been left in the heat or trapped in a hot vehicle, the Humane Rescue Alliance can be called at 202-723-5730.

Storm Team4 1 hour ago

Storm Team4 Forecast: Light scattered rain on cloudy Thursday before rainout Friday

Washington DC Jul 19, 2023

It takes just minutes for a hot car to become dangerous

Signs of heat-related illnesses

In hot climates, heat-related illness is a serious risk with serious consequences. Knowing the signs and types of heat-related illnesses can make all the difference.

Heat cramps can sometimes be the first sign of a more serious heat-related illness, like heat exhaustion or heat stroke, according to the National Weather Service. Symptoms include painful cramps or spasms and can be treated by applying firm pressure to the muscle. As long as the person isn’t nauseous, they can also be given water.

If symptoms last for over an hour, worsen or the person vomits, seek medical attention.

Heat exhaustion is marked by a variety of symptoms:

• Heavy sweating
• Weakness or tiredness
• Cool, pale, clammy skin
• Fast, weak pulse
• Muscle cramps
• Dizziness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Headache
• Fainting

If these symptoms last for over an hour, get worse or vomiting occurs, seek immediate medical attention, the National Weather Service says.

Move the person to a cooler area, loosen their clothing, offer sips of water and apply cool, wet cloths or have them sit in a cool bath.

Heatstroke is always a medical emergency and can be fatal if not treated quickly. If heat stroke is suspected, call 911 or get the person to the hospital, said the National Weather Service.

In the meantime, try to reduce their body temperature using cool, wet cloths or a bath. A fan can also be used, but only if the heat index is below 90 degrees, otherwise it could do more harm than good.

The symptoms are not that different than those of heat stroke and can include:

• Headache
• Confusion
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Body temperature above 103 degrees
• Hot, red, dry or damp skin
• Rapid and strong pulse
• Fainting or loss of consciousness.

In order to prevent heat-related illness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests spending time in the air-conditioning — either at home or an air-conditioned public place, wearing loose-fitting clothing and taking cool showers and baths. Using the stove less often can also help make it cooler at home.

They also emphasized that outdoor activities should be scheduled with caution. They should be limited to when it’s coolest, such as in the morning and the evening, with opportunities to rest in the shade.

For the safety of both pets and their owners, pets should be kept inside. If walks are necessary, they should be done early in the morning with lots of water breaks.

Never leave children or pets alone in a vehicle

It’s also important to be aware of the danger posed by hot vehicles. Within 10 minutes, the temperature inside a car can get 19 degrees higher than it is outside, said Storm Team4 Meteorologist Jessica Faith. With temperatures in the 90s, it can be over 100 degrees inside a vehicle.

Cracking a window is not effective in alleviating the heat.

Staying in a hot car can be fatal, with victims often being children or pets.

In 2023, 29 children died of heatstroke in vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

It only takes 15 minutes for an animal to suffer from heat-related illness or death in a vehicle.

Make sure car doors are locked and that keys are out of the reach of children so they aren’t able to get in by themselves. Always lock the doors after leaving the car and check the back seats.

However, what you’ll likely see on your car Friday morning isn’t pollen. It’s actually dust.

What’s happening?

The damaging high winds, tornadoes and dust storms that swept through parts of the central and southwest U.S. earlier this month are moving to the East Coast.

Residents in Chicago also experienced dirty rain with some posting photos of their vehicles covered in mud spots.  

Why is this happening?

As dust mixes in with strong storms, it causes the storm to rain dust leading to muddy or dirty rain.

The dirtier and dustier air is primarily in central and Northern Virginia.

What should you do?

As the windshield wipers are going tonight, don’t be surprised if the rain looks a little dirty or muddy.

The dust also is not known to cause major issues to the air quality. The increased tree pollen because of the spring season is still the main culprit of bad allergies.

The good news is the rain will rinse the dust and pollen out of the air. The cooler temperatures in the coming days will also give people suffering with allergies a break.

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Seven tornadoes tore through West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland Wednesday — an outbreak that left a path of tree and structural damage extending about 100 miles long and injuring five people in Montgomery County, Maryland — the National Weather Service said in a preliminary report Thursday.

Five of the tornadoes came from a single storm, Storm Team4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer said.

A powerful storm system spawned the destructive tornadoes, beginning in Inwood, West Virginia, where an EF-0 rated twister hit at 4:04 p.m. and traveled almost a mile over four minutes, reaching an estimated peak strength of 75 mph.

About two-and-a-half hours later, an EF-1 tornado hit in Leesburg, Virginia, for a minute at 6:42 p.m., covering a mile and reaching a strength of 95 mph.

That storm continue to Montgomery County, where at 7:14 p.m., another EF-1 tornado traveled 12 miles from Poolesville to Gaithersburg before ending at 7:42 p.m. That tornado reached a strength of 105 mph and width of 125 yards.

Dozens of trees were snapped or toppled completely by the twister, damaging homes and downing powerlines. Widespread outages were reported.

Martin Perez was at home in Gaithersburg with his wife, daughter and two friends when the tornado struck and high winds toppled a tree onto his home, splitting it in two. They all were rescued and were taken to the hospital.

“To see my daughter screaming, to see your family members scared, you’re scared too. I was very afraid,” Perez said Thursday, after he was released from the hospital.

“I’m devastated to see my family suffering, to see my property and my house damaged,” he said.

The tornado likely caused millions of dollars worth of damage, said Earl Stoddard, director of the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security.

The storm then continued east to Columbia, where it produced a 95 mph strength, EF-1 tornado at 8:31 p.m. The twister covered a mile over two minutes.

In southern Baltimore County, a fifth tornado struck at 8:45 p.m. and traveled about two-and-a-half miles over seven minutes. It rated EF-1 with peak winds of 105 mph.

A few minutes later, another EF-1 hit briefly to the northeast of Baltimore city in Middle River.

Finally, an EF-0 twister northwest of Baltimore in Carroll County traveled about four-and-a-half miles for about 15 minutes before the outbreak ended.

‘Nature could happen anytime, anywhere’

As residents of Gaithersburg clean up storm damage, some told News4 they will take storm warnings more seriously next time.

“No matter where you live, nature could happen anytime, anywhere,” one man said.

Down the street, a neighbor echoed the sentiment.

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“This was a big wake-up call. It was scary,” she said. “The wind was howling. It sounded like we had a freight train coming through the house. I felt like we were Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ I felt like the house was going to take off.”

“Listen to when they say tornado warning,” she added. “This was the real McCoy and it was very frightening.”

Be cautious when cleaning up, Stoddard told residents, especially while using ladders.

If you see any wires, call officials. Touching a live wire could be fatal.

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

At least two tornadoes touched down in Montgomery County on Wednesday, likely causing millions of dollars worth of damage, said Earl Stoddard, director of the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security.

At least five people were injured but no deaths were reported.

Martin Perez was at home in Gaithersburg with his wife, daughter and two friends when a tornado struck and high winds toppled a tree onto his home, splitting it in two. They all were rescued and were taken to the hospital.

“To see my daughter screaming, to see your family members scared, you’re scared too. I was very afraid,” Perez said Thursday, after he was released from the hospital.

“I’m devastated to see my family suffering, to see my property and my house damaged,” he said.

Two or three tornadoes hit in that area of Montgomery County, with winds high as 105 mph, the National Weather Service said.

Trey Simmons and his little brother surveyed the storm damage on Thursday. A huge tree fell in their backyard and their trampoline was missing.

“I like to do fun flips in it, but it will not let me do fun flips anymore, because the tornado fell it away,” the little boy said.

Their great-grandmother said she had never seen anything like it.

“In 93 years, I’ve never experienced this. That’s amazing, isn’t it?” she said.

The property damage is extensive but Stoddard said he’s thankful no one was killed.

“We got incredibly lucky in Montgomery County with two different tornadoes coming during the peak of rush hour,” Stoddard said. “People home, having dinner in their homes.”

A framed picture could be seen through the torn wall of a home on Thursday morning.

About nine areas received damage “likely caused by tornadoes,” the National Weather Service said in an update Thursday, citing data, photos and videos. Those areas include Gaithersburg, Poolesville, Brookeville, Olney and Arbutus.

The National Weather Service is set to investigate the damage and release more information. They are investigating at least 15 potential tornadoes across Maryland, Stoddard said.

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Reopening roads, cleaning up wires and trees and assisting families whose homes were destroyed are among the top priorities in the cleanup effort, Stoddard said.

‘Nature could happen anytime, anywhere’

As residents of Gaithersburg clean up storm damage, some told News4 they will take storm warnings more seriously next time.

“No matter where you live, nature could happen anytime, anywhere,” one man said.

Down the street, a neighbor echoed the sentiment.

“This was a big wake-up call. It was scary,” she said. “The wind was howling. It sounded like we had a freight train coming through the house. I felt like we were Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ I felt like the house was going to take off.”

“Listen to when they say tornado warning,” she added. “This was the real McCoy and it was very frightening.”

Be cautious when cleaning up, Stoddard told residents, especially while using ladders.

If you see any wires, call officials. Touching a live wire could be fatal.

More severe weather is possible on Thursday. The risk of tornadoes is lower than it was on Wednesday, but rresidents should remain weather alert.

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

A long-track twister left its greatest destruction in a residential neighborhood in Gaithersburg, where it felled large trees onto houses. Residents were trapped inside.

In one home along Dogwood Drive, five people were injured, including one person with traumatic injuries, according to Pete Piringer of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.

“When it came through … it just looked an eerie color and then all of a sudden it happened really fast, and we heard a foundation kind of shake kind of thing,” said one Dogwood Drive resident, who sheltered in her basement with her family.

Multiple tornadoes are believed to have struck. In an update early Thursday, Montgomery County officials said they believe at least two tornadoes tore through the county. The National Weather Service is expected to provide additional information.

There are widespread power outages and downed wires, Piringer said. Debris was strewn across roadways.

Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman said he was relieved that no one was killed.

Dashboard camera video shared with News4 showed debris violently swirling around on a Gaithersburg street and an apparent utility explosion as the tornado moved through.

Mark Monis said he decided to pursue his dream of being a tornado chaser and almost got more than he bargained for.

“I was watching Doug [Kammerer], and he said it was going to be by Gaithersburg High School,” he said. “And I had a dream of chasing tornadoes when I was younger, and I took this opportunity.”

He said what he saw near the intersection of South Frederick Avenue and South Summit Avenue was earth-shaking. Trees and branches started hitting his car.

“You see all the debris flying in here, and I was like, ‘This is probably it, right here,’” Monis said. “I was like, ‘Jesus, this could have been worse.'”

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A potentially deadly tornado was confirmed on the ground in Poolesville, Maryland, at 7:14 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Piringer said that Montgomery County Fire and RMS communications responded to 35 storm-related incidents between 6 and 8:30 p.m.

Damage and debris have been reported as a tornado moved east at 20-25 mph. The path of damage may start as far west as Leesburg, Virginia, Storm Team4 said, and includes Poolesville, Gaithersburg and Olney, Maryland.

As of 8:50 p.m., the length of the storm’s path — at least of what was warned, not necessarily what was on the ground — was about 60 miles and was still headed toward Baltimore. Tornadoes can skip, Storm Team4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer said.

“That is one of, if not the, longest tracks I have ever worked here in the Washington, D.C., area,” Kammerer said. 

The severe weather then moved on toward Howard and Anne Arundel counties, and Baltimore.

The strongest winds associated with the tornado were about 110 mph, according to Storm Team4.

NWS categorized it as a “particularly dangerous situation.” Weather spotters also confirmed the tornado.

The storms also produced a lot of lightning.

Several tornado warnings popped up Wednesday afternoon and evening as Storm Team4 tracked storms in the Washington, D.C., area.

A tornado warning means there is imminent danger and anyone in the area should take steps to protect themselves and their families immediately.

When a tornado warning is in effect, anyone in the area should take cover immediately. The best place to take cover is on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, experts say. Bathrooms and closets are often a good choice so you can avoid windows.

People across the D.C. area saw heavy rain begin before the evening rush hour. A flood watch was issued for parts of Maryland and Virginia through 10 p.m.

Weather radar:

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

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It also could be an active season for hurricanes, though conditions could keep them mostly off the coast.

What to know about hurricanes for summer 2024

We’re coming out of El Niño and moving toward La Niña, which helps create hurricanes. And a warmer-than-average Atlantic Ocean could mean more intense hurricanes.

But the Bermuda High — high pressure centered near Bermuda during the summer months — will be further east this summer, which won’t allow the heat to come up from areas such as the Gulf of Mexico. That bodes well for the development of hurricanes. They may occur in the Gulf of Mexico, but storms that form in the Atlantic Ocean may stay out to sea.

The jet stream pattern will move up into Canada before coming down across the D.C. region, creating a trough of low pressure along the East Coast, which should also help keep any hurricanes out to sea.

Expect an above-average storm season, with 16 to 21 named storms (the average is 14) and nine to 11 hurricanes (there’s usually five to seven), with three to five major hurricanes that should stay off the coast.

But in late August, look for the potential of a hurricane which could make its way up the East Coast, hopefully staying just offshore.

What to know about heat & humidity for summer 2024

The jet stream pattern also means the D.C. area shouldn’t see a lot of intense heat. Expect about 38 to 46 days of 90° temps (the average is 45) but no 100° days.

But a more humid season will mean heat indexes rising above 100°.

Rather than hunting last-minute online or frantically messaging your group chat for spare solar eclipse glasses, you can plan ahead for Monday, April 8, like a pro eclipse chaser.

What will the solar eclipse look like in D.C., Maryland and Virginia? The moon is expected to cover the sun at about 87% at maximum eclipse in the D.C. area at about 3:20 p.m. But without the special glasses, not much will be visible, according to Storm Team4 Meteorologist Amelia Draper.

“It’s not really going to change here; we could have some shadows. But for the most part, it’s going to be unnoticeable. That’s right, unnoticeable unless you have those special glasses,” Draper said.

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You could risk a severe eye injury if you view an eclipse without special glasses or a handheld solar viewer, according to NASA. The concentrated solar rays will be so strong that they can burn the inside of your eyeball, just like a sunburn an optometrist told CNBC. Ouch!

Be careful to avoid purchasing eclipse glasses online to avoid fakes and counterfeits. The American Astronomical Society maintains a list of reputable solar eclipse glasses that have UV-blocking filters. They advise against searching for the glasses on Amazon, eBay or Temu.

“Staring at a partial solar eclipse for more than a few seconds at a time, even through perfectly safe solar viewers, isn’t much fun anyway,” the American Astronomical Society said in a warning about counterfeit and fake eclipse glasses.

What about regular sunglasses? Safe solar glasses are “at least 1,000 times darker” than regular sunglasses, the society said.

It’s also recommended to wear eye protection for the entirety of a partial solar eclipse.

Here’s where to find solar eclipse glasses in D.C. Maryland and Virginia:

Where to find solar eclipse glasses in DC

DC Public Library: Starting April 1, D.C. residents can pick up eclipse glasses at their local library branch. The free eclipse glasses are available while supplies last until April 8. 

 “Get your solar shades on!” @dcpl wrote on X. 

National Air and Space Museum, National Mall: The museum will offer free eclipse glasses on the first floor left of the museum store until Sunday, April 7. Distribution times are noon to 4 p.m. Timed-entry tickets are required to enter the museum.

There will be no eclipse glass hoarding here. “One pair of glasses per family or individual,” according to the museum’s website. The museum’s store will also have eclipse glasses available for purchase.

Smithsonian Museums, National Mall: If free glasses run out, the following museums will have three pairs of solar eclipse glasses for $6: the National Museum of African Art, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of Asian Art, National Museum of Natural History, National Postal Museum and Hirshhorn Museum.

The above map shows libraries participating in the Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries program that may have free eclipse glasses.

Where to find solar eclipse glasses in Virginia

Arlington County Central Library, Arlington: Pick up solar eclipse glasses during the “Solar Eclipse Extravaganza” on Saturday, April 6. Attendees will learn about NASA’s Eclipse Soundscapes and craft their own Eclipse Pinhole Viewer.

David M. Brown Planetarium, Arlington: Snag free eclipse glasses before “Lights Out! Eclipses: Whys, Wonders and Wows” on April 6 and 7. The kid-friendly show will explore the fascinating science stories and wonderous changes that occur during eclipses.

National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly: Between noon to 4 p.m., free solar eclipse glasses will be available across from the John F. Plueger Family Welcome Center. The museum’s store will also have them available for purchase.

Virginia State Parks, various locations: Solar-viewing glasses will be sold for $1 plus tax at all 42 state parks in the state.

Where to find solar eclipse glasses in Maryland

Warby Parker, various locations: The eyeglass store is helping customers see the solar eclipse by offering free and ISO-certified eclipse glasses at all stores. Find a location here.

College Park Aviation Museum: During the eclipse viewing event on Monday, the museum will hand out eclipse glasses as long as supplies last. The event and glasses are free.

Montgomery County Public Library: Several libraries will host events and give out free glasses. To find an eyewear giveaway near you, search “eclipse” then select relevant dates on the events calendar webpage.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

More into DIY projects? Here’s how to make a box pinhole protector at home.

This article will be updated with additional places to find solar eclipse glasses.

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One to 2.5 inches or more is expected to fall across the D.C. area. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch. You can see all severe weather alerts here.

“We are expecting widespread showers for a good chunk of the day,” Storm Team4 Meteorologist Jessica Faith said.

The rain mostly affects any plans for Saturday morning and early afternoon. The Wharf rescheduled their Bloomaroo spring festival to Saturday, March 30 because of the forecast. National Landing’s Pink in the Park has been postponed, as well.

Rain timing

Rain moved in late Friday from the south. The most widespread showers fell on Saturday morning.

Storm Team4’s radar showed many areas with heavy rain between 7 and 11 a.m.

Rain is expected to decrease in coverage and intensity later in the afternoon. The rain will begin to move out in the evening.

“If you want to make any plans for Saturday, the later the better — especially after sunset,” Faith said.

So, your dinner plans should be fine. Keep an umbrella on hand for any lingering wet weather.

This forecast has a silver lining if you’ve been waiting to see the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin. The cool weather is helping the delicate flowers hang on, and it will likely still be worth visiting the blooms on Sunday.

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Flood watch issued

A flood watch is in effect from Friday night to Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service said. The flood watch covers much of the D.C. area, including:

• Washington, D.C.
• Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland
• Arlington County, Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Prince William County, in Northern Virginia

Watch out for excessive water in flood-prone locations including near rivers and in areas with poor drainage.

Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.

A red flag warning was in effect in Virginia for weather conditions that officials warned could lead to the rapid spread of fire. Temperatures were in the 60s on the fourth day of peak bloom as strong wind gusts stirred up petals and dust.

“Forest/brush fires, WEST of #DC currently spreading smoke across the metro as winds gust. Air quality is down and you’ll smell the smoke,” Storm Team4 Meteorologist Ryan Miller wrote on X. 

The largest brush fire was west of D.C., in Page County, Virginia. The county declared an emergency and closed all schools Thursday. Luray High School was used as an evacuation shelter. 

Photos show bright orange and red flames cresting over the mountains in Luray.

In D.C., at least three acres of Rock Creek Park near the Carter Barron Amphitheatre burned, D.C. Fire and Emergency Services said. Firefighters had to pull down a fence to access the flames. 

No homes were damaged, and no injuries were reported, officials said. 

In Prince William County, Virginia, at least 39 brush fires were reported. The majority were small. No injuries or damage was reported, officials said.

The “Satellite Thermal Hotspots and Fire Activity” map was created by Storm Team4’s Ryan Miller with ArcGIS Experience Builder.

In Montgomery County, Maryland, there was a small brush fire spanning about 1.5 acres near Great Seneca Creek overnight Wednesday, fire officials said. Firefighters used floating pumps and water from a nearby creek to extinguish the flames.

At about 9 p.m., firefighters responded to a brush fire in Oakview, Maryland. The fire was on a trail on Oak View Drive and could be seen from the Beltway. 

“If you see smoke from a remote area, call the fire department. It’s likely a brush fire. But again, the conditions are very favorable — low humidity, breezy, windy conditions where it’s rapid spread of the fire,” Pete Piringer, a Montgomery County Fire spokesperson, said Wednesday. 

The red flag warning expired Wednesday evening, but Thursday remains dry with strong Northwest winds, according to Storm Team4.

“Winds continue to diminish today with dry high pressure overhead. An elevated fire danger looks to continue given the very dry air & NW winds gusting 15-25 mph,” the National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington said on X.

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The cherry trees at the tidal basin have reached their puffy white stage.

“The blossoms are out, now we’re just waiting for them to open,” the National Park Service said Friday.

You can see the cherry blossoms on the Trust for the National Mall’s Bloom Cam.

It’s been just under two weeks since blossom watch began with the first stage on Saturday, March 2, when green buds appeared.

Warm temperatures helped push the cherry blossoms from their peduncle elongation stage to puffy white in about three days.

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Peak bloom is declared when 70% of the blossoms on the Tidal Basin’s cherry trees are open. If weather conditions are good, peak bloom can last as long as 10 days.

Peak bloom usually comes two to five days after puffy white begins, according to National Park Service data.

This weekend’s cooldown could slow down peak bloom – just like it did last year. But Storm Team4 Meteorologist Amelia Draper says it’s not supposed to get cold enough to harm many of the flowers.

Most blossoms can withstand temperatures as low as 27°, Draper said.

When will the cherry blossoms reach peak bloom?

Weather will determine the timeline for peak bloom.

Storm Team4 Meteorologist Doug Kammerer projected peak bloom will begin on March 24.

The National Park Service estimated projected peak bloom dates are March 23 to 26.

“Determining the dates for peak bloom is one of the great puzzles in the nation’s capital,” said Jeff Reinbold, the NPS’ superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks. “Emerging from the warmest January on record, this has been a particularly puzzling year to read the trees and establish a projected date for peak bloom.”

Due to the warmer-than-average temperatures, the trees never went fully dormant, which is what the NPS uses to calculate peak bloom. In addition, the NPS’ designated “indicator tree” has been showing several different bloom phases, reflecting the wide range of temperatures we’ve been getting.

“We’re seeing the effects of both warmer and highly variable temperatures on the trees,” Reinbold said.

The cherry trees that Japan gave to the United States more than 100 years ago draw visitors from around the world.

How does Storm Team4 predict peak bloom?

The cherry trees have to complete a long journey before peak bloom, and weather plays a huge role in how quickly the flowers grow.

Cherry blossoms bloom in stages: green bud, florets visible, extension of florets, peduncle elongation and puffy white all come before the full bloom.

Last year, D.C.’s famed trees had green buds as of Feb. 23, and peak bloom was declared on March 23.

While we were running a little behind schedule, warm temperatures helped the blossoms grow.

Last year, we reached peak bloom on March 23, which is still on the early side.

The most common time for peak bloom is between the last week of March and the first week of April, according to the NPS.

Sign up for The Weekend Scene newsletter for cherry blossom joy, fun things to do and D.C.-area culture every week.

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