Tuesday, March 17, 2026: Washington, D.C. rolled into the day on the chilly side, with blustery west winds, partly cloudy skies and a wake-up temperature near 34°F at Reagan National. Skies should turn mostly sunny, but the afternoon high is only expected to reach about 43°F, which is below normal for mid-March. With those winds whipping across exposed bridges and waterfronts, it will feel like temperatures are hovering near or just above freezing for much of the day.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
West winds are forecast to blow steadily in the teens, with gusts around 25–30 mph from this morning into the afternoon and stronger gusts possible over higher terrain. The National Weather Service has issued Small Craft Advisories for local waters through 7 p.m., along with Wind and Winter Weather Advisories over higher elevations, so anyone heading out on the water should think twice or proceed with serious caution. For the full rundown of current watches and warnings, see NWS Baltimore/Washington.
What This Means For Your Commute
Those gusty crosswinds could slow traffic and make for a white-knuckle grip on elevated ramps and bridges, especially for trucks and other high-profile vehicles. Bicyclists and motorcyclists will likely feel every bit of it this afternoon. After sunset, winds ease and temperatures drop, with lows sinking to around 27°F tonight, setting up a cold and calmer overnight. Any outdoor plans on the Potomac or Chesapeake may be worth postponing or, at minimum, planning with the wind in mind.
Looking Ahead
Temperatures stay stuck below normal through Wednesday, with highs in the low 40s, before gradually moderating later in the week. Thursday should rebound to around 54°F, then highs climb into the 60s by Friday and Saturday, with a warmer day near 69°F possible on Sunday. There is a slight chance of light rain late Friday into the weekend, and next Sunday looks like the most volatile day for both temperature swings and scattered showers. For background on how this quick cold-to-warm swing set up earlier this month, revisit our earlier coverage.
