After Monday’s chilly temperatures that didn’t exceed 30 degrees in the Washington area, forecasters are bracing for a wintry mix of freezing rain and snow in time for the commute Tuesday morning.

7News First Alert meteorologist Eileen Whelan said that despite sunny skies, Monday will be “the coldest day of the week,” with high temperatures around 30 degrees.

Whelan said blue skies will give way to an increase in high clouds in the afternoon, followed by a freezing night and overnight lows into the 20s as clouds continue to fill the sky.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for possible road impacts for Tuesday from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. Whelan said morning commuters could see “a little bit of snow and freezing rain” as they headed out the door.

According to the weather service, total icing of up to a few hundredths of an inch is possible, as well as snow scattering of up to a tenth of an inch.

Light freezing rain will begin between 5 and 7 a.m. Tuesday along and west of Route 15, then between 6 and 9 a.m. along the Interstate 95 corridor, the weather service said. It could snow, but the weather service said that would be most likely along and north of Interstate 70.

According to the National Weather Service, the freezing rain will transition to rain late Tuesday morning and end again early Tuesday afternoon.

Because it is Christmas Eve, traditionally a busy travel day, Whelan said people should take extra caution on area roads.

Temperatures are expected to reach more seasonal highs around 40°C by Tuesday afternoon.

Failures:

7News First Alert Forecast

MONDAY: COLD ALERT
Mostly sunny. Highs between 34 and 39.
Winds: NE to SE 5-10 mph

MONDAY EVENING: Partly cloudy, becoming mostly cloudy. Lows between 24 and 30.
Winds: South 5 mph

Christmas Eve Tuesday: WINTER ALARM
Morning rain, snow showers, afternoon sun. Maximum values ​​are between 40 and 45.
Winds: Light and variable

CHRISTMAS DAY WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny. Maximum values ​​are between 40 and 45.
Winds: North 5-10 mph
Morning temperatures will be in the upper to lower 30s, with afternoon highs reaching into the 40s.

Current conditions

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