You’ve seen the panic at the grocery stores. The shelves are suddenly missing bread, and the milk aisle looks like a ghost town. Honestly, it’s basically a rite of passage for anyone living in the District when there’s even a whisper of white stuff falling from the sky. But if you’re looking at the weather forecast for today Washington DC, you’ll find that the reality is a bit more... slushy.
Today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, we’re living in that weird atmospheric middle ground. It’s not quite a winter wonderland, and it’s definitely not a pleasant spring day.
According to the latest data, we’re looking at a high of 43°F. That sounds almost decent, right? Wrong. The humidity is sitting at a heavy 84%, and with an east wind moving at 5 mph, that damp chill is going to settle right into your bones. Most of the action happened this morning with a 100% chance of rain and snow already having made its mark. If you looked out your window at Reagan National earlier, you probably saw a messy conglomeration of ice pellets, sleet, and rain.
Why Today's Forecast is Tricky
The problem with DC weather is the "marginal temperature" trap.
Meteorologists like Topper Shutt and the crew over at the Capital Weather Gang have been tracking this for days. When the air is hovering right around the freezing mark, even a one-degree difference determines if you’re shoveling your driveway or just splashing through puddles. Today, the ground is just warm enough that most of that 100% precipitation chance turned into a slushy mess rather than a skating rink.
Still, the National Weather Service didn't take any chances, keeping those Winter Weather Advisories active for parts of the region earlier.
If you're heading out to the National Mall or just grabbing coffee in Adams Morgan, wear the waterproof boots. Seriously. The "slush factor" is high. While the day-time condition was officially labeled as rain and snow, the nighttime is shifting toward just being cloudy with a low of 35°F.
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The Hourly Breakdown You Actually Need
Let’s get real about the timing. You want to know when to walk the dog without getting soaked.
- This Morning: This was the peak. A "snow burst" moved through, though it mixed with rain almost immediately because the mercury stayed stubbornly above 32°F.
- This Afternoon: We reached that high of 43°F. It’s the kind of weather where you wear a heavy coat but end up sweating if you walk too fast.
- Tonight: The clouds are sticking around. The wind is light, but the air is thick. That 19% chance of nighttime snow is mostly just a "conversational" flurry—nothing that's going to require the salt truck.
What’s Coming Next (And It’s Actually Cold)
If you think today is annoying, just wait for the "Arctic Blast" everyone is buzzing about.
While today’s weather forecast for today Washington DC is mostly about moisture, tomorrow and Monday are about the deep freeze. Sunday, January 18, brings another mix of rain and snow with a high of only 37°F. But the real kicker is Monday night into Tuesday. We’re talking about an arctic surge that could drop wind chills into the single digits.
Jason Samenow and the Capital Weather Gang are keeping an eye on a low-pressure system developing off the coast. If that thing wobbles even a few miles west, Sunday could turn into a much more significant event for the DMV. For now, expect a trace to maybe an inch in most spots—mostly on the grass.
Real Talk on DC Snow Stats
People love to compare every flurry to the Blizzard of '96 or the 18.7 inches from the "Knickerbocker" storm way back when. But today is just a standard, gloomy January day in the mid-Atlantic.
Interestingly, on this day in 1982, DC hit a record low of minus-5 degrees. Compared to that, our 35°F low tonight feels like a tropical vacation. But don't get too comfortable. The "Snow Potential Index" is creeping up, currently sitting at a 3/10 according to some local experts. It’s not a "run for the hills" number, but it’s enough to keep your ice scraper in the front seat.
Actionable Steps for DC Residents
Don't just sit there watching the radar. Here is what you actually need to do based on today's messy forecast:
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- Check your tires. If you’re driving out to Dulles or up toward Frederick, the temperature drops fast on the bridges. Slush turns to ice in a heartbeat.
- Clear the drains. If you have a drain in your driveway or near your curb, clear out the wet leaves. That 100% precipitation needs somewhere to go, or you'll have a pond by sunset.
- Prepare for Monday. Today is wet, but Monday is the "true" winter. Dig out the heavy wool socks and the insulated gloves now.
- Watch the "Northwest" shift. Keep an eye on the wind direction. Today it's from the east, bringing in that damp Atlantic air. When it flips to the northwest tomorrow at 9 mph, that’s when the real cold arrives.
The bottom line? Today is a wash. It’s a gray, damp, "stay inside and watch Netflix" kind of day. The snow might be pretty for five minutes, but the 84% humidity means it’s mostly just going to be a soggy Saturday.
Keep an eye on the transition tonight. As we move into Sunday, those clear night skies will lead to a much sharper drop in temperatures. If you have outdoor plants that haven't quite given up the ghost yet, this is the night to bring them in. The "mild" part of January is officially taking a break.