UPDATE: Winter Storm Warning Now In Effect For Part Of The Region

John Matthews
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON — For the third time since dawn, the National Weather Service has bumped up its snow forecast for much of the region. A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect through 1 pm for most of the region north and west of the District.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Heather Sheffield tells WMAL the Alberta Clipper that's passing through the area has started to develop larger bands of snow, which is dumping more than originally expected. She still expects the bulk of the snow to pass through the region by around noon today.

Snow made its first cameo appearance of the year across the Washington area Tuesday morning, with tiny flakes covering the roads in many spots as early as 4 am.

Sunshine should appear by mid-afternoon, as cold air settles into the region for Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures struggling to reach 30 degrees.

Here's the Winter Storm Warning in effect for the region:

URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
903 AM EST TUE JAN 6 2015

NORTHWEST MONTGOMERY-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY-WARREN-
PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK-FAIRFAX-
ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-NORTHERN FAUQUIER-
WESTERN LOUDOUN-EASTERN LOUDOUN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…GERMANTOWN…DAMASCUS…ROCKVILLE…
FRONT ROYAL…MANASSAS…MANASSAS PARK…FAIRFAX…ALEXANDRIA…
FALLS CHURCH…WARRENTON…PURCELLVILLE…LEESBURG…ASHBURN
903 AM EST TUE JAN 6 2015

…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS
ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL
1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER
IN EFFECT.

* PRECIPITATION TYPE…SNOW…HEAVY AT TIMES.

* ACCUMULATIONS…4 TO 6 INCHES.

* TIMING…UNTIL 1 PM. THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL BE THROUGH 11 AM.

* TEMPERATURES…LOW 20S.

* WINDS…VARIABLE 5 MPH.

* IMPACTS…HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATING ON ALL SURFACES WELL BELOW
FREEZING AND VISIBILITY BELOW HALF MILE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE
FOR VERY HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF
SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN
AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL…KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT…
FOOD…AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.