Herndon Under Winter Storm Watch

Herndon is under a winter storm watch, according to the National Weather Service, and the chances our area will see “significant snow” Tuesday night and Wednesday are increasing.

The official National Weather Service forecast for Herndon calls for rain Tuesday afternoon changing to snow after dark. The low temperature will be 33 Tuesday night and rise only to 35 on Wednesday as precipitation continues through Wednesday evening.

“More than 5 inches possible… with the potential for significant snowfall somewhere within the watch area,” according to the forecast. The storm impacts could include “difficult driving conditions, heavy wet snow and gusty winds could lead to power outages.”

And, since people in Northern Virginia like to name storms, the popular choice for this storm seems to be: Snowquester.

The Capital Weather Gang says a "reasonable first estimate" is 3 - 8 inches of heavy, wet snow in the DC metro area, with more likely outside the Beltway. "This is the kind of storm will snowfall may vary significantly within a very small area and where a few degrees will make a big difference."

History of March Snow in DC Area

The DC area has gotten at least a trace of snow in March in 15 of the past 30 years, WTOP reported. Seven of those 15 snowfalls have been less than an inch. The most recently really significant snow in March was 5.5 inches in 2009.

Overall, the DC area has averaged 1.3 inches of snow in March over the past 30 years. Out at Dulles International Airport, the average for March is 2.8 inches over the past 30 years, according to WTOP.

This February, both Punxsutawney Phil and Potomac Phil predicted an early spring.

More on snow: 

• Town of Herndon Snow Removal Procedures 
• Tips for Driving in the Snow
• Winterize Your Vehicle
• FCPS Inclement Weather Plans 
• Fairfax County Emergency Information Blog
• Virginia Traffic Information