A snowstorm expected to brush past the region early Monday morning will largely miss the DC area, with only the slightest chance some communities see a few flakes. Forecasters do not anticipate any meaningful travel impacts locally.
A Freezing Fog Advisory has also been issued for several counties in northern and central Virginia, reaching the outer fringes of the greater DC region. While the immediate metro is not included, the advisory highlights the potential for slick spots and low visibility for those traveling south overnight.
Freezing fog is fog that forms in sub-freezing temperatures, and it can be surprisingly dangerous even though it doesn’t involve falling precipitation. Fog is just tiny water droplets suspended in the air. When temperatures are below 32°F, those droplets stay liquid (supercooled) rather than turning into ice. When they come into contact with a surface like a car, road, sidewalk, tree branch, traffic light, etc., they freeze on contact.
Locally, the chance for accumulating snow remains very low. According to the National Weather Service, Washington, DC currently has a 22% chance of receiving more than one-tenth of an inch of snow Monday Morning. That probability drops quickly as you move north, with only a 5–10% chance in upper Montgomery County.
Freezing Fog Advisory details per the National Weather Service:
FREEZING FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM MONDAY FOR:
• Stafford County
• King George County
• Southern Fauquier County
• Central and Southeast Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park
What to Expect:
Visibility of one-quarter mile or less in freezing fog.
Impacts:
Low visibility may make driving hazardous. Fog combined with sub-freezing temperatures could cause untreated surfaces to quickly become slick.
NWS Guidance:
Drivers should slow down, use headlights, and maintain extra distance between vehicles..
The region’s next measurable snow opportunity looks uncertain, and confidence in any accumulation remains low based on current guidance.
