Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina Could See Rain Flip to Late-Night Snowflakes Wednesday as Arctic Front Brings a Colder Thursday

VIRGINIA – A quick-hitting Arctic front is expected to sweep across parts of the Mid-Atlantic late Wednesday, and while the system doesn’t look like a big snow producer, it could still bring a familiar winter curveball: rain showers after sunset that may end as snowflakes overnight before shutting down, followed by much colder air on Thursday.

The data shown in the simulated radar depiction points to a narrow band of precipitation stretching from North Carolina into Virginia and up through Maryland, with a colder pocket on the north side that could squeeze out light snow at the tail end—especially close to and north of the Washington-Baltimore corridor.

What the data is showing for Wednesday night

The setup looks like a classic “front-end rain, back-end flakes” pattern.

• Light rain or showers are indicated across parts of North Carolina into central/eastern Virginia Wednesday evening.
• As the front pushes through, the precipitation shield shifts northeast into Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and parts of Pennsylvania.
• On the colder backside, the same system may briefly change over to snowflakes near the end, particularly in portions of Maryland, southern/central Pennsylvania, and nearby higher elevations into West Virginia.

This type of event often feels “conversational” in real life—meaning many people just see a few flakes mixing in, or a short burst of wet snow right before the sky clears.

Where snowflakes are most likely to appear

Based on the placement of the blue-shaded “snow” zone in the simulated radar image, the best chance for a late-night flip to snowflakes looks focused on:

• Northern Virginia into Maryland, including the areas near and north of Washington, D.C.
• Southern Pennsylvania and nearby higher ground
• Parts of West Virginia closer to the colder air edge
• Potentially a quick mix or changeover reaching into Delaware and New Jersey as the precipitation band races northeast

Farther south—especially across much of North Carolina—the signal leans more toward rain showers with less time in the colder air before precipitation ends.

How much snow accumulation is expected

This is not shaping up as a meaningful accumulation event for most locations.

What the forecast discussion-style text suggests is:

• Not much overall, with many areas seeing little more than wet flakes at the end
• A grassy coating is possible in a few spots if the changeover happens while showers are still active
• Pavement accumulation would be limited in many neighborhoods unless a heavier shower coincides with the coldest air arriving

In quick frontal events like this, the difference between “no accumulation” and “a light coating” can come down to timing—whether the cold air arrives before the precipitation exits, or after it ends.

Timing: after sunset through around midnight

The strongest rain signal appears to be after sunset Wednesday, with the best chance for a late changeover occurring overnight as the Arctic front crosses the region.

A reasonable timeline based on the graphic and messaging:

• Wednesday evening: scattered light rain/showers develop and expand northeast
• Late evening into overnight: colder air deepens; rain may mix with or briefly change to snow near the end
• Toward early Thursday: precipitation shuts down, skies trend drier, and colder air takes over

Impacts: low-end snow, bigger temperature drop

Even when snow amounts are minor, these setups still matter for two reasons:

1. Spotty slick patches can happen if a heavier shower changes to wet snow and temperatures fall quickly afterward—especially on bridges, ramps, and shaded surfaces.
2. The bigger story is often what comes next: a much colder Thursday, which can turn leftover moisture into icy spots early in the day.

Most drivers won’t be dealing with plowable snow, but you may notice a brief burst of flakes and then a fast shift to a colder, more winter-feeling air mass.

What to do if you’re traveling late Wednesday or early Thursday

If you’ll be on the road late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, or North Carolina, a few simple moves can prevent headaches:

• Watch for rapid changes in visibility if a rain shower flips to wet snow
• Slow down on bridges and overpasses if temperatures drop quickly
• Give yourself extra time Thursday morning, especially if roads remain damp overnight
• Don’t assume conditions are uniform—this looks highly variable by location

Bottom line

A fast-moving Arctic front may bring rain showers Wednesday evening that could end as snowflakes overnight from parts of Virginia into Maryland and nearby areas, with only a minor coating in a few spots at most. The more consistent and widespread change will be the much colder air arriving Thursday.

What are you seeing where you live—steady rain, or flakes mixing in late? Share your local conditions and keep following the Waldron website for more weather updates.