D.C. area forecast: Frequent clouds, rare sprinkles today; cold and sun return for weekend

Today: Cloudy most of day. 49-54. | Tonight: Slowly clearing. 31-35. | Tomorrow: Sunny, breezy. 48-52. | Get Express Forecast by E-mail

A somewhat subjective rating of the day’s weather, on a scale of 0 to 10


A step above average given relatively mild temps before the weekend chill down. Get the Digit on Twitter| Discuss on Facebook

A daily assessment of the potential for *accumulating* snow for the next week on a 0-10 scale. More info

SPI: 2 (→) - Oh be snow next Wednesday, you are our only hope! Get the SPI on Twitter | Discuss on Facebook

Today marks the quiet end of February which has been pretty unremarkable weather-wise. March enters more pussycat than lion. The only thing noteworthy for the weekend sadly is another surge of cold taking up residence. No putting the heavy coats away just yet. Snow lover’s last chance *may* come next Wednesday but given this year...well there is always next year.

Today (Thursday): The best chance for a sprinkle coincides with the predawn hours and even that is pretty slim. Clouds are a better bet but even they are likely to come and go during the course of the day. Westerly breezes are tolerable as highs still manage near 50 to perhaps the mid-50s in a few milder locations. Confidence: Medium-High

Tonight: The skies slowly shake the clouds. Readings are still in the 40s in the evening but end up in the low-to-mid 30s. Confidence: High

For related traffic news, check out Dr. Gridlock. Keep reading for the forecast through the weekend...

Tomorrow (Friday): Colder air is streaming into the area on a healthy breeze from the northwest. But sunshine is more of a force now that March has arrived, managing to still push highs into the upper 40s to lower 50s. Confidence: High

Tomorrow night: The stars are out in full force and, for anyone up in the wee hours, there is a great triangulation of the quarter moon, Saturn and some star in Libra I can’t pronounce. Winds lighten up helping but not stopping the chill. Expect lows in the mid-20s in the colder suburbs to near freezing downtown. Confidence: High

Saturday continues to enjoy plenty of sunshine but it is no match for the colder air pouring down from the snowy northlands. Highs only manage to make the mid-40s in most areas. Look for lows to fall to the mid-to-upper 20s (perhaps near 20 in some of the colder suburbs). Confidence: High

Sunday is even chillier as the freight train of cold barrels across the area headed all the way down to Florida. There should still be more sun than clouds but highs mainly in the lower 40s are a bummer. Overnight is no picnic either with lows in the mid-to-upper 20s yet again (perhaps near 20 in some of the colder suburbs). Confidence: Medium-High

Monday still is in a struggle to overcome a very cold airmass overhead which thwarts the prevalent sun and holds highs to just low-to-mid 40s. Confidence: Medium-High