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Winter Weather Advisory issued in northern Md.; New Year's Day expected to be coldest since 1940

By Mike Thomas, FOX 5 DC
Published  December 29, 2017 11:21pm EST
News
FOX 5 DC

WASHINGTON - If you're planning to go outside to ring in the new year this weekend in the District, you'll want to bundle up as a brutal cold front continues to sweep over the region.

Frigid temperatures remain in DC after Thursday proved to be one of the coldest December days in nearly 10 years. A high temperature of 25 degrees was recorded at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which is much lower than the average of 44 degrees. Baltimore-Washington International Airport recorded a high of 24 degrees and Washington Dulles International Airport recorded a high of 23 degrees, which are both records. BWI also tied a record low of 10 degrees from 1950.

The trend continues as we head into the weekend and now the potential for snow begins to mix with the cold. A moisture starved clipper will pass to DC's north on Saturday and is expected to bring light snow to the area Saturday morning along with high temperatures in the mid-30s.

A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for areas in northern Maryland along the Maryland-Pennsylvania border from midnight to noon on Saturday. Accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the advisory area.

While amounts will typically be less than an inch, the ground is very cold so this could create slick spots. If you're traveling for New Year's Eve, you'll want to use extreme caution, especially if heading north and west of the District where more snow is expected to fall.

New Year's Eve will see high temperatures only in the mid-20s and falling into the teens with the potential for single digit wind chills by the midnight hour, so if you're planning to be outside for extended periods of time while ringing in the new year you'll want to layer up and prepare for a very chilly night.

New Year's Day is predicted to have a high of only 25 degrees, which would be the coldest since 1940 and the sixth coldest New Year's Day on record. If the District hits 26 degrees, it would be the seventh coldest on record.