Radar shows the steady area of sleet rapidly exiting to the northeast as a dry slot enters the region from the southwest. In the immediate area, generally a coating to a couple of inches of sleet (and some snow in a few areas) fell; less than predicted for most.
While some spotty frozen precipitation is possible Thursday afternoon and night, we don’t expect significant additional amounts. That said, a period or two of steadier frozen precipitation that leaves behind a coating or so is not out of the question through Friday morning.
With temperatures holding at or below freezing, untreated roads and sidewalks will remain slick. Use caution.
This will be our last update in this article. We will have a new article evaluating the problems with the morning forecast Thursday afternoon.
From early this morning: Why did mostly sleet fall and not snow?
As mostly sleet (mixed with freezing rain and a bit of snow) falls across the area instead of snow, you may be wondering: What happened and why is it not snowing with temperatures in the 20s?
Essentially, temperatures about 5,000 feet high are a little above freezing, partially melting snowflakes and turning them into sleet. Models had projected these temperatures would be about a degree colder, which was the rationale for predicting at least a brief period of snow. But the fact the real atmosphere is warmer than the modeled version has meant sleet.
We had predicted snow would change to sleet and indicated Wednesday night more sleet would fall than snow, but that small warm layer several thousand feet high has mostly melted away snow prospects.
Scroll down to the bottom of this article for storm updates from throughout the morning …
Detailed forecast
Today’s daily digit
A somewhat subjective rating of the day’s weather, on a scale of 0 to 10.
1/10: Not enough snow and ice is not nice, if you are out, walk slow or pay the price.
Express forecast
- Today: Snow/sleet/freezing rain, heaviest in the morning. Highs: Near 30.
- Tonight: Patchy, intermittent light wintry mix. Lows: 25 to 29.
- Tomorrow: Morning mix possible; partial clearing in afternoon. Highs: 35 to 39.
Forecast in detail
Not much doubt that Thursday will be a mess, from the combination of snow and ice. The heaviest falls in the morning, but even the lighter, icy precipitation that follows into the night makes untreated surfaces potentially hazardous. A dry weekend offers relief, but cold temperatures do not relent.
Today (Thursday): Snow and/or sleet greet early risers and eventually turn into mostly sleet as the morning progresses. The precipitation may be heavy at times, reducing visibility and quickly covering roads and sidewalks. A gradual shift to mainly light freezing rain in the afternoon could add a treacherous glaze as temperatures remain below freezing.
Most of us pick up at least an inch or two of snow and sleet, and amounts increase as you head northwest where more snow falls. Highs are in the upper 20s to low 30s with northeast breezes. Confidence: Medium-High
Tonight: Freezing rain showers should be light and intermittent but still capable of a dangerous film of ice. Sleet and/or snow could mix in at times but may not amount to much. North winds are generally on the light side. Lows slip to the mid-to-upper 20s. Confidence: Medium-High
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Tomorrow (Friday): Very light freezing rain is still possible in the morning and could mix with sleet and snow. Most precipitation should be over by midday and partial clearing is possible in the afternoon. Winds are moderate from the northwest. Highs reach the mid-to-upper 30s, allowing a bit of melting. Confidence: Medium
Tomorrow night: Skies continue to clear through the night with light northwest winds. Lows tumble into the upper teens to low 20s,…
Read More: D.C. winter storm updates: Icy precipitation eases