Washington region forecast: Valentine’s Day sunshine and mid-50s, followed by colder rain Sunday afternoon

A brief late-winter thaw is set to arrive Saturday after a cold end to the workweek

The Washington area is on track for a two-part holiday weekend: a brighter and milder Valentine’s Day on Saturday, February 14, followed by a wetter and cooler shift on Sunday, February 15, as a storm system moves into the Mid-Atlantic.

Friday, February 13, is expected to stay on the cold side, continuing the recent stretch of wintry conditions. Temperatures are projected to remain seasonably low, with morning cold capable of leaving untreated surfaces slick where snowmelt has refrozen overnight.

Valentine’s Day: sunshine and a warm-up into the 50s

Saturday’s forecast points to a noticeable warm-up, with highs expected in the mid-50s across much of the District, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Skies are expected to be mostly sunny, offering a window for outdoor plans and for additional melting of remaining snow and ice from earlier in the month.

The combination of sun and above-freezing temperatures should accelerate thawing along sidewalks and neighborhood streets, particularly where snow piles have lingered in shaded spots. Even with the milder afternoon, temperatures are still expected to drop back below freezing Saturday night in some locations, which can allow melted water to refreeze on bridges, overpasses, and other exposed surfaces.

Sunday: colder rain develops, with a wintry start possible northwest of the city

Conditions are expected to change Sunday afternoon and evening as precipitation spreads into the region. Forecast guidance supports a predominantly cold rain for the District and nearby suburbs, with highs expected to be cooler than Saturday.

For communities north and west of the Capital Beltway—especially at higher elevations—precipitation may begin as a brief wintry mix before transitioning to rain as temperatures rise. The timing of that changeover will be a key factor for travel impacts in the suburban and exurban corridors.

• Most likely outcome in the District: rain developing later Sunday, with limited winter precipitation risk.

• Higher risk area: locales north and west of Washington, where a short period of mixed precipitation is possible at onset.

• Main hazard: wet roads and reduced visibility during heavier showers; localized ponding possible where storm drains are blocked by snow or debris.

Early next week: temperatures trend milder again after the rain

After Sunday’s system moves through, the broader pattern supports a return to milder temperatures into early next week, extending the thaw and continuing the cleanup of residual snowbanks across the region. Residents should monitor forecast updates as the storm approaches, particularly in areas where a brief wintry mix could affect travel late Sunday.

Drivers are typically most vulnerable to refreezing hazards when daytime melting is followed by nighttime temperatures near or below freezing—especially on elevated roadways.