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.