Record Cold Tonight, Rain Returns by Thursday

Residents across Northern Virginia and the surrounding region should prepare for a sharp plunge in temperatures tonight, with conditions expected to reach near-record lows. The National Weather Service reports that a powerful high-pressure system is moving into the area, ushering in clear skies, dry air, and cold temperatures through the middle of the week.

Forecasters say tonight’s weather will create “ideal radiational cooling conditions,” allowing heat from the ground to escape into the atmosphere. Low temperatures are projected to dip into the 20s for most areas, with some of the coldest locations possibly reaching the mid to upper teens. Urban cores like Fredericksburg and Manassas may stay around freezing, but are still expected to see unseasonably cold weather.

In response, the National Weather Service has issued Freeze Warnings for areas near and east of Interstate 81, excluding the Blue Ridge Mountains. The growing season in this region typically begins in early to mid-April, and recent mild weather may have prompted early budding, increasing the risk of cold damage to sensitive plants.

“This is an unusually strong cold snap for this time of year,” the weather agency noted. “We’re seeing temperatures 15 to 25 degrees below normal.”

On Wednesday, temperatures are expected to rebound slightly, with highs in the mid-50s under sunny skies. Winds will shift out of the south as the high-pressure system begins to move offshore.

Looking ahead to Thursday, an upper-level weather system will bring more unsettled conditions. Rain is likely to return as a warm front lifts into the region. Temperatures will rise back into the upper 50s and low 60s in areas south of the front, while communities to the north could remain cooler, with highs in the upper 40s to low 50s.

After a rainy end to the workweek, forecasters expect high pressure to return for the weekend, bringing drier weather and more seasonal temperatures.