STERLING VA: (Rocktown Now) – A winter weather advisory has been issued for much of the northern Shenandoah Valley, north of the Interstate 66/U.S. Route 50 corridor as a combination of freezing rain and sleet is expected to move into the region on Friday.

Forecasters say a surge of cold air from high pressure centered over Quebec will push south into the Mid‑Atlantic, setting the stage for frozen precipitation. At the same time, a plume of moisture will spread north over a frontal boundary stretching from the central Appalachians into the Carolinas. With warmer air riding above a sub‑freezing surface layer, meteorologists warn that a wintry mix is likely.

Advisory Details

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday for:

  • North‑central and western Maryland
  • Northwest Virginia, including the Northern Virginia Blue Ridge
  • The eastern panhandle of West Virginia

Expected Accumulations

Residents can expect:

  • Up to one inch of combined snow and sleet
  • Around one‑tenth of an inch of ice, with lighter amounts (a trace to a few hundredths) near U.S. 50

Timing and Impacts

Precipitation is projected to begin late Friday morning, mainly as sleet or freezing rain. Freezing rain, with occasional sleet mixed in, is likely to continue throughout the afternoon and evening.

Temperatures are forecast to hover near 32°F for much of the day before rising above freezing overnight. Road conditions may become slippery, and officials caution that the Friday evening commute could be significantly affected.

What Residents Should Do

Authorities recommend allowing extra travel time, monitoring local forecasts, and being prepared for hazardous driving conditions.