WINTER STORM WARNING: Spring snowstorm arrives in DC region

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Spring officially began at 12:16 p.m., but it's not living up to its name. In fact, the D.C. region will look and feel much more like winter.

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the majority of the D.C. region. The warning will take effect at 2 a.m. Wednesday and will last through 8 p.m. Wednesday night. Between 4-12 inches of snow is expected in the area where the warning is in effect, with higher totals north and west of the D.C. metro area.

Many school districts across the region have announced school closures for Wednesday. (RELATED: Check full list of weather-related closings and delays)

The first of what is a two-storm event started on Tuesday. For the bulk of the region, rain moved in prior to sunrise Tuesday morning. Colder air spilling into the highland regions northwest of town helped quickly change things over from rain to sleet, and in some cases, snow.

In areas northwest of D.C., rain fought the sleet and snow line throughout Tuesday afternoon. Winter Storm Warnings were issued earlier Tuesday for areas further to the northwest across the Maryland and West Virginia panhandles, where the potential for more than 6 inches of snow exists from the first storm alone.

The rain began to transition to all snow, although it lightened in intensity during the evening hours as the first storm exited the region. Colder air draining into the region behind the first storm will set the stage for a snowier scenario.

Hot on the heels of the first storm, the second storm will begin to develop overnight southeast of our region. With colder air in place, snow is expected to spread northward after midnight with the potential for widespread heavy snows across the region.

Don't expect too much snow on the ground at sunrise on Wednesday. A few inches will be possible, but models are showing the bulk of accumulation will take place from sunrise to the early evening Wednesday depending on where you live.

While the bulk of the accumulations will be on the grass, we cannot rule out the potential for roadways to be covered as in areas that see the heaviest snowfall rates. Keep in mind that Tuesday's rain and sleet likely washed away any pre-treatment that was put onto local roadways.

This will be a heavier, wet snow as opposed to a light, flaky snowfall. Snow is expected to persist into Wednesday afternoon before lightening up during the second half of the day before exiting Wednesday evening.

Stay with FOX 5 DC for updates as the weather situation develops on Wednesday.