Storm Team4 Forecasts Sunny Yet Chilly Tuesday in DC, Maryland and Virginia

Milder temperatures and rain chances are expected before the weekend

Mar. 24, 2026 at 9:38am

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Today will be a chilly yet sunny day in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, but Storm Team4 is tracking milder temperatures and rain chances before the weekend. The region has been experiencing unusually mild weather so far this March, with several of the warmest Marches on record occurring in recent years.

Why it matters

The unseasonably warm weather in the region has led to earlier blooming of the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin, which is a major tourist attraction. Understanding the weather patterns and forecasts can help residents and visitors plan accordingly.

The details

Despite the sunny skies, temperatures will struggle to reach the 50s on Tuesday. Clouds will roll in Tuesday night, keeping temperatures above freezing on Wednesday morning. The region has been more than 5 degrees above average for the month of March, with several of the 10 warmest Marches occurring since 2012. This has led to the cherry blossoms reaching peak bloom earlier than usual in recent years.

  • Today will be a chilly yet sunny day in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
  • Clouds will roll in Tuesday night and help to keep temperatures above freezing for Wednesday morning.
  • Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-70s on Thursday afternoon.
  • Rain is likely to arrive late Thursday night into Friday, with temperatures dropping during the daylight hours on Friday.
  • There will be a frost/freeze concern on both Friday and Saturday nights.

The players

Storm Team4

The weather forecasting team at NBC4 Washington.

D.C.

The nation's capital, located in Washington, D.C.

Baltimore

The largest city in the state of Maryland.

Dulles

Dulles International Airport, located in Virginia.

Tidal Basin

A popular tourist attraction in Washington, D.C. known for its cherry blossom trees.

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What they’re saying

“We're over halfway into March and it's been unusually mild considering the harshness of the preceding winter.”

— Chuck Bell, Storm Team4 Meteorologist

“Maybe a warmer March is just part of our changing climate since seven of the 10 warmest Marches (to this point in the month) have all occurred since 2012 which is top on the list.”

— Chuck Bell, Storm Team4 Meteorologist

What’s next

The blossoms are now in stage 5 out of 6 and with temperatures near 75° coming on Thursday, Storm Team4 doesn't see how they're not at peak this weekend.

The takeaway

The unusually warm weather in the D.C. region in recent years has led to earlier blooming of the cherry blossoms, a major tourist attraction. Understanding the weather patterns and forecasts can help residents and visitors plan accordingly.