The National Weather Service says its Blizzard Watch issued yesterday will become a Blizzard Warning beginning Friday afternoon.
The Blizzard Warning for Reston, Northern Virginia and the Washington, DC area goes into effect Friday at 3 p.m. and will remain in effect through 6 a.m. Sunday, the NWS said.
A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. There will be  falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibility, including whiteout conditions, the NWS says.
The forecast for the Reston area is 24 to 30 inches of snow.
More from the NWS:
HAZARD TYPES…HEAVY SNOW AND WIND WITH BLOWING AND DRIFTINGÂ SNOW FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. SLEET MAY MIX WITHÂ THE SNOW FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING EAST OF INTERSTATEÂ 95 BEFORE CHANGING BACK TO ALL SNOW BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
* ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 18 TO 24 INCHES IN THEÂ EASTERN SUBURBS OF WASHINGTON DC…AND 24 TO 30 INCHES IN THEÂ WESTERN SUBURBS. THE CITY OF WASHINGTON DC IS EXPECTED TOÂ RECEIVE AROUND 24 INCHES.
* TIMING…HEAVY SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON ANDÂ CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TOÂ DETERIORATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOW…STRONGESTÂ WINDS…AND POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING CONDITIONS EXPECTEDÂ FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY.
* IMPACTS…HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CAUSE DANGEROUSÂ CONDITIONS AND WILL BE A THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY. TRAVELÂ IS EXPECTED TO BE SEVERELY LIMITED IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE DURINGÂ THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY. VISIBILITYÂ WILL BE REDUCED TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES IN WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.
* WINDS…NORTHEAST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50
MPH…BECOMING NORTH SATURDAY.* TEMPERATURES…MID TO UPPER 20S.
Graphic: Blizzard Warning areas in red for Jan. 22-24 storm/Credit: NWS
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