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Small Craft Advisory SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY - Tidal Potomac
Test Message TEST MESSAGE - Montgomery Cnty(C+SE), MD  - Montgomery Cnty(NW), MD

WASHINGTON DC METRO AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
With Gale Warnings ending at 1 AM, have put out Small Craft Advisories which run through 7 PM this evening. Additionally, with snow squalls possible at times, Winter Weather Advisories have been extended until 5 PM across the Allegheny Front. While not changing the foreast yet, may add isolated snow showers east of the mountains to today`s forecast given the high spillover potential of snow streamers.

Current DC Area Radar & North America Lightning


Northeast US Radar

Regional Radar

North America Lightning

North America Lightning Strikes
Radar image courtesy of NWS. Lightning Data courtesy of Blitzortung.org and its Contributors.
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Current Clifton Virginia Conditions & NWS Forecast

Updated: @ 17-Mar-2026 5:20am - next update at 5:30am  
Temperature Summary Outlook
Currently: 31.8, Max: 36.5, Min: 31.8 31.8°F
Colder 1.4°F than last hour.

Cold

Feels like: 32°F

24-hr difference
-29.1°FColder 29.1°F than yesterday at this time.
  Today Yesterday
High: 36.5°F
12:51am 		68.5°F
10:57am
Low: 31.8°F
5:16am 		36.1°F
11:55pm
High & Low March 2026
High:  87.1°F
10 March at 3:31 PM
Low:  26.8°F
13 March at 6:27 AM
Max Min:  57.2°F
11 March
Min Max:  34.9°F
02 March
High and Low 2026
High:  87.1°F
10 March at 3:31 PM
Low:  5.2°F
27 January at 7:52 AM
Max Min:  57.2°F
11 March
Min Max:  18.4°F
25 January
Record March
High:  88.0°F
at 04:54 on 28 March 2017
Low:  5.0°F
at 23:58 on 03 March 2014
Max Min:  69.0°F
at 09:29 on 30 March 2025
Min Max:  31.8°F
at 13:45 on 06 March 2015
Station All Time Record
High:  101.9°F
at 15:51 on 02 August 2024
Low:  1.0°F
at 07:23 on 23 January 2014
Max Min:  78.1°F
at 06:58 on 23 June 2024
Min Max:  16.7°F
at 12:04 on 16 February 2015
Records began on 24 December 2012
Wind Chill
Now:  31.8°F
Coldest Wind Chill
Today:  31.8°F
at 5:16am
Yesterday:  33.9°F
at 11:19pm
March 2026  26.8°F
13 March at 6:27 AM
2026  2.9°F
01 February at 8:34 AM
Station March  3.4°F
at 01:56 on 06 March 2015
Station All Time  °F
Records began on 24 December 2012
Degree Days
Heating Degree Days
Today: 6.7 Degree Days
Yesterday: 6.0 Degree Days
Cooling Degree Days
Today: 0.0 Degree Days
Yesterday: 0.3 Degree Days
Heat Index
Now:  31.8°F
Warmest Heat Index
Today:  36.5°F
at 00:51
Yesterday:  68.5°F
at 10:57
March 2026  88.5°F
11 March at 3:46 PM
2026  88.5°F
11 March at 3:46 PM
Station Record March  95.6°F
at 04:54 on 28 March 2017
Station All Time  124.4°F
at 13:24 on 25 June 2025
Records began on 24 December 2012
WeatherCam Thumbnail
North North West Camera
North North West WeatherCam
Mostly cloudy Mostly cloudy
Wind from W W
2
Gust:
 9 mph
1 Bft - Light air
Today: 14 mph 12:41am
Gust Month: 26 mph March 13
Rain Today:  0.00 in
Rain Rate /hr  0.00 in
Rain Last Hour:  0.00 in
Rain 24hrs:  1.32 in
Wind

Station High March 2026
High Gust:  26 mph
13 March at 3:10 PM
High Average:  10 mph
12 March at 11:03 AM
Station High 2026
High Gust:  29 mph
07 February at 10:28 AM
High Average:  10 mph
12 March at 11:03 AM
Station Record March
High Gust:  39 mph
at 03:20 on 02 March 2018
High Average:  24 mph
at 13:07 on 02 March 2018
Station All Time Record
High Gust:  42 mph
at 12:56 on 04 January 2018
High Average:  24 mph
at 13:07 on 02 March 2018
Records began on 24 December 2012
Wind Run

Today:  9.6 miles
Yesterday:  85.1 miles
Highest Wind Run
March 2026  85.1 miles
16 March
2026  101.4 miles
07 February
March  284.2 miles
on 02 March 2018
Station All Time  284.2 miles
on 02 March 2018
Records began on 24 December 2012

Rain
Rain Today: 0.00 in
Rain Rate (/hr): 0.00 in
Rain Yesterday: 1.35 in
This Month: 2.75 in
Season Total: 6.38 in
1 day since last rain.

Days Since Last Dry Day: 2
Station High March 2026
High Day:  1.35 in
16 March
High Hour:  0.78 in
16 March at 1:42 PM
High Rain Rate /hr:  5.76 in
16 March at 12:46 PM
Station High 2026
High Day:  1.35 in
16 March
High Hour:  0.78 in
16 March at 1:42 PM
High Rain Rate /hr:  5.76 in
16 March at 12:46 PM
Station Record March
High Day:  1.95 in
on 21 March 2019
High Hour:  1.98 in
at 16:12 on 20 March 2015
High Rain Rate /hr:  5.76 in
at 12:46 on 16 March 2026
Station All Time Record
High Day:  5.17 in
on 21 July 2018
High Hour:  2.21 in
at 16:13 on 22 July 2020
High Rain Rate /hr:  64.00 in
at 10:49 on 19 October 2021
High Month:  10.27 in
July 2018
Records began on 24 December 2012
WeatherCam Thumbnail
South South West Camera
South South West WeatherCam
Overnight

Overnight: Mostly Clear
Mostly Clear
Tuesday

Tuesday: Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Tuesday
Night
Tuesday Night: Mostly Clear
Mostly Clear
Lo 29 °F Hi 42 °F Lo 24 °F
Lightning VA MD DC WV DE

Viginia Lighting
Radar Washington DC Metro Area

  GRLevel3 radar from NWS station KLWX

Storm Prediction Center Activity Chart

SPC Activity

Humidity & Barometer
Humidity: 60 % Decreased 4.0% since last hour.
Dew Point: 19.5°F Decreased 2.9°F since last hour.
Barometer: 29.83 inHg Rising 0.03 inHg/hr
Baro Trend: Rising
Today
Pressure High:  30.09 in
Pressure Low:  29.99 in
Dewpoint High:  33.1 °F
Dewpoint Low:  19.6 °F
Humidity High:  80%
Humidity Low:  40%
Station Record
Pressure High:  31.41 in
at 12:14 on 23 March 2017
Pressure Low:  28.99 in
at 07:41 on 07 February 2020
Dewpoint High:  82.7 °F
at 11:55 on 05 July 2024
Dewpoint Low:  -27.0 °F
at 01:57 on 20 February 2015
Records began on 24 December 2012
Snow

Snow Depth: 0.0 in
Snowfall Today: No Snow Today
Storm Total: 0.0 in
Total Season Snow: 13.0 in
Total Last Season: 15.5 in
Fire Danger
firedanger
Almanac
Sunrise: 7:15am
Sunset: 7:19pm
Moonrise: 6:33am
Moonset: 6:02pm

Day Length:  12:01
Dawn:  06:51
Dusk:  19:46
Daylight Length:  12:54
 There will be 2min 34s more daylight tomorrow

Cloud Base

cloudbase
CB AGL: 2799 ft
UV Index

   0.0   
None
High: 0.0 @ 12:00am

Solar Radiation
0 W/m2
High: 0 @  12:00am

Air Quality Index
Current AQI
1
Good

Sunlight

12 hrs 3 min 57 sec
of Sunlight Today
Which is
2 min 32 sec Longer
Than Yesterday
(Noon) graph (Midnight)
 Legend

Moon


Waning Crescent
Waning Crescent, Moon at 26 days in cycle
3% %
Illuminated
 NWS Weather Forecast  - Outlook: Overnight & Tuesday
Overnight

Overnight: Mostly Clear
Mostly Clear

Lo 29 °F		 NWS forecast: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. West wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Davis VP+ forecast: Partly cloudy and cooler.		   Tuesday

Tuesday: Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny

Hi 42 °F		 NWS forecast: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. West wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
 NWS Weather Forecast  - Five Day Outlook for Overnight through Friday Night - Last Update: Tue, 17-Mar-2026 2:42am EDT
Overnight

Overnight: Mostly Clear
Mostly Clear
Tuesday

Tuesday: Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Tuesday
Night
Tuesday Night: Mostly Clear
Mostly Clear
Wednesday

Wednesday: Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Wednesday
Night
Wednesday Night: Partly Cloudy
Partly Cloudy
Thursday

Thursday: Partly Sunny
Partly Sunny
Thursday
Night
Thursday Night: Partly Cloudy
Partly Cloudy
Friday

Friday: Partly Sunny
Partly Sunny
Friday
Night
Friday Night: Chance Light Rain
Chance Light Rain
Lo 29 °F Hi 42 °F Lo 24 °F Hi 43 °F Lo 29 °F Hi 54 °F Lo 36 °F Hi 62 °F Lo 45 °F

NWS Forecast Maps

NOAA Forecast Map for Today

Forecast Map for Today

NOAA Forecast Map for Tomorrow

Forecast Map for Tomorrow
Forecast map for Today courtesy of NOAA. Forecast map for Tomorrow courtesy of NOAA.

Random Weather Facts

Weather Terms
Warning - A warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely. A warning means weather conditions pose a threat to life or property. People in the path of the storm need to take protective action.

Today in Weather History

Weather History for March 17
 
1942   One-fourth of Lacon, IL was destroyed by an F5 (estimated) tornado. Many of the 60 damaged homes were completely swept away, and debris was found 25 miles distant. The tornado killed eight people along its 30 mile long path northwest and north of Peoria.
2004   Heavy rainfall began yesterday on La Reunion Island, an island in the Indian Ocean. The rainfall finally ended today and produced the current world record for a one day rainfall total, which is 73.6 inches.