Region awakes to unusually cold temperatures

WASHINGTON — Temperatures eventually bottomed out in the mid- to upper-20s to the lower 30s Tuesday night (though the wind chill made it feel much colder) across the area after a cold front moved through Tuesday afternoon.

Despite daytime highs in the upper 40s Wednesday, there is also a freeze watch for Wednesday night into Thursday for much of the listening area.

The National Weather Service in Sterling reported a drop of temperatures from 68 to 53 degrees in 90 minutes Tuesday, and temperatures continued to fall into the 30s and upper 20s across the region Tuesday night.

In the early morning hours Wednesday, there could be a few icy areas where the wind hadn’t dried out the roadways before temperatures fall below the freezing mark. Icy spots will be location dependent.

Winds will eventually die down by the lunch hour Wednesday, but the damage is already done: Despite high pressure bringing us all sunshine Wednesday, temperatures will only top out in the upper 40s to around 50 degrees. It will be a chilly day, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Temperatures warm up to the 60 degree mark on Thursday and Friday and into the mid 60s for the weekend (although a few showers are expected on Saturday).

Although the front cleared the D.C. and Baltimore metro areas by 2 p.m. Tuesday, rain continued through the early evening hours, not wrapping up until around 8 p.m.

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A flood warning was in effect in parts of Fairfax County on Tuesday. (Courtesy ABC7)

Some street flooding was reported across the area and a flood warning was in effect for eastern portions of Fairfax County (Huntington/Belle View/Alexandria) until 7 p.m. Tuesday. A lot of the newly bloomed spring vegetation has helped soak up the rain accumulation in the grassy areas, but some of the urban areas and small streams reported with minor flooding. Just remember: Turn around. Don’t drown.

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