Snowy Forecast Not Enough to Wreck the Party

The first measurable snow of the winter in the Washington area could fall today, the National Weather Service said. A small amount -- less than an inch -- is possible during the day, and more could fall tonight, forecasters said.

Any flakes that fall would enhance the wintry sensation created in the past few days, in which the mercury dipped to 8 degrees at one point, the lowest temperature recorded at Reagan National Airport in more than five years.

The 8-degree reading came at 7:04 a.m. Saturday. The last time it was that cold in Washington was Jan. 10, 2004. The lowest temperature measured at the airport last year was 16 degrees.

Yesterday's temperature met few definitions of balmy. But it did climb above the freezing mark for the first time in more than 77 hours; the mercury never rose as high as 32 degrees at any point Thursday, Friday or Saturday.

The high temperature at National yesterday was 37 degrees at 3:52 p.m., which helped mitigate the severity of the day for those gathered at the Lincoln Memorial for the inaugural concert.

Today's high is expected to be in the low- to mid-30s, the Weather Service said. Inauguration Day highs are expected to be in the low 30s.

During this cold-weather season, only traces of snow have been recorded so far at National.

Road crews were pre-treating highways and Park and Ride lots across Northern Virginia in anticipation of snow, officials said.