D.C.-area forecast: Snow to exit, strong winds sweep in — and Arctic cold returns with a vengeance

Radar shows the moderate area of snow over the Interstate 95 corridor has shifted east of the District with mostly light snow to the west. Over the next couple of hours, the snow will be mostly light with the exception of some moderate snow in our eastern areas. Between 8 and 10 a.m., it should start to taper off from west to east. However, winds gusting to 30 mph or higher will blow snow around and some flurries are possible even through midday.

[Commuters face slick roads as snow hits the D.C. region]

Snow amounts so far range from a coating to an inch in the immediate area, but up to a couple inches east of the city.

Reports are that many roads are snow-covered and slick so take it easy. Our next update will be around 8 a.m.

5:30 a.m. update: Light snow began across the area between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. overnight and a more solid band of snow, moderate at times, has developed over the immediate area early this morning. Temperatures are in the low-to-mid 20s, untreated roads are snow-covered and slick, and most schools have decided to close or delay.

Because the storm is moving so fast, the snow should gradually wind down from west to east over the next several hours but an inch or two is likely (except a dusting to coating in our western areas), with greater amounts of 3 to 6 inches in Southern Maryland, under a winter storm warning. Winds, already gusting over 25 mph, will increase as the explosive ocean storm continues to strengthen, causing blowing snow and reduced visibility.