Honestly, if you've lived in Northern Virginia for more than a week, you know the drill. One day you're hunting for a light jacket, and the next you're digging a path through a surprise dusting of snow. Predicting the 10 day weather forecast fairfax va is kinda like trying to predict which lane on I-66 will move the fastest.
Right now, as of late Sunday night, January 18, 2026, Fairfax is sitting at a crisp 27°F. It feels like 19°F though, thanks to a 7 mph breeze coming off the northwest. The sky is clear with just some periodic clouds hanging around. If you were out earlier today, you likely saw that messy mix of rain and snow. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make the roads a bit slick before things cleared up tonight.
The Cold Truth About This Week
We are looking at a serious roller coaster.
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Monday is going to be deceptive. It'll be sunny, which sounds great, but don't let the 41°F high fool you. By Monday night, the bottom drops out. We’re talking a low of 15°F. That is "pipes might freeze if you aren't careful" territory.
Tuesday stays brutal. Even with the sun out, we’re only hitting a high of 27°F. If you’re commuting into the city or taking the Metro, bundle up.
Mid-Week Warmth or Just a Tease?
Wednesday and Thursday offer a bit of a breather. Wednesday climbs back to 40°F, and by Thursday, we might actually hit 50°F.
It won't last.
The humidity is going to spike to around 50% by Thursday night as the clouds move in. It's that heavy, damp cold that Virginia does so well—the kind that gets right into your bones. Friday stays cloudy with a high of 42°F, but the real story is what’s brewing for the weekend.
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The 10 day weather forecast fairfax va Weekend Outlook
Saturday, January 24, is when things get interesting.
The temperature is going to struggle to even reach 20°F. Let that sink in. The daytime is just cloudy, but by Saturday night, there is a 25% chance of snow showers.
Sunday looks like the main event for snow lovers. We have a 35% chance of actual snow during the day with a high of only 17°F. That is properly cold. If that moisture hangs around, the accumulation could stick easily because the ground will already be frozen solid from the days prior.
- Monday (Jan 26): Back to sun, but still freezing at 27°F.
- Tuesday (Jan 27): Partly sunny, 32°F high, but the night low stays at 14°F.
Why Fairfax Weather is So Weird
Meteorologists often point to our location between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic. We get these "clipper" systems coming down from the northwest—like the one hitting the Northern Plains right now—and they collide with moisture coming up the coast. According to data from the National Weather Service, this time of year is statistically our coldest. Historically, the average high in January for Fairfax is about 41°F, but as we can see from the upcoming 17°F and 20°F days, "average" doesn't mean much when a cold front decides to camp out over the DMV.
I remember back in 2023, January was incredibly mild—the sixth warmest on record, actually, averaging over 42°F. This year? Not so much. We are leaning closer to the historical "frigid" years like 1977 or 1918 if this trend of sub-20 temperatures holds.
Survival Steps for the Next 10 Days
Basically, stop putting off the winter chores.
First, check your car battery. Lead-acid batteries lose about 30% of their power when the temperature drops to freezing, and at 0°F, they lose about 60%. With several nights hitting 12°F to 15°F this week, an old battery will simply quit.
Second, if you have outdoor spigots, make sure the hoses are detached. Even "frost-proof" faucets can burst if a hose is still full of water and attached to the house.
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Lastly, watch those Sunday snow chances. A 35% chance might not sound like much, but at 17°F, whatever falls will be dry, powdery, and very slippery. It’s the kind of snow that turns the Fairfax County Parkway into a skating rink. Keep your salt buckets handy and maybe plan to stay in and watch some hockey next Sunday.
Stay warm out there. The sun is technically staying out longer—we're gaining about a minute of daylight every day now—but it's going to be a while before we actually feel it.
Next Steps for Fairfax Residents:
- Verify your anti-freeze levels and tire pressure before Tuesday’s 27°F high.
- Stock up on ice melt by Friday to stay ahead of the Saturday/Sunday snow potential.
- Check on elderly neighbors when the lows hit 12°F next weekend.