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Winter Storm Warning for D.C. region Sunday into Monday

By Lauryn Ricketts

UPDATE: 7 a.m. on Sunday, March 16

WASHINGTON — A Winter Storm Warning for areas in pink has been issued from 7 p.m. Sunday until 2 p.m. Monday for 3 to 6 inches with some locally higher amounts south of the D.C. Metro area.

A Winter Weather advisory for areas in purple has been issued from 5 p.m. Sunday until 2 p.m. Monday for 2 to 4 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

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The onset of precipitation should begin this evening. (WJLA)

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The onset of winter precipitation in local time. (NOAA)

UPDATE: 5 a.m. on Sunday, March 16

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the D.C. area from 7 p.m. Sunday afternoon through 2 P.M. Monday afternoon.

Howard, Carroll and Frederick, Md. counties remain under a winter weather advisory.

Evening will begin with rain and sleet until turning into snow overnight. There could be up to six inches of snow by Monday afternoon, depending on location.

It will be in the lower- to mid-40s Sunday afternoon, and the temperature is expected to drop into the lower to mid-20s across the region by nightfall. The high will be in the lower 30s by Monday. Winds could gust up to 20 miles per hour.

Forecast as of Saturday p.m.

ABC7

ABC7 meteorologist Alex Liggitt is predicting 2 or more inches will fall in parts of the region by Monday morning. Snow will fall over the region Sunday night into Monday morning and showers are possible throughout the day Monday.

The snow will cause travel delays and possibly cancellations Monday.

Areas north and west of the District including Loudoun and Frederick counties will see the greatest chance for measurable snowfall. Areas south and east of D.C. including Stafford, Fredericksburg and Southern Maryland will have a greater chance for a snow-rain mix so residents in these areas can expect less snow accumulation.

The immediate D.C. metro area also has a chance for snow but temperatures will determine just how much the urban core will see.

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The chance for 2 inches of snow or more is greater in the counties shaded pink. Areas shaded blue, including D.C., have a smaller chance for that much snow. (National Weather Service)

National Weather Service

The National Weather Service is predicting accumulating snow with the heaviest snow falling late Sunday night into early Monday morning. The snow could linger throughout the day Monday, says meteorologist Brian Lasorsa.

Temperatures will be in the 40s Sunday ahead of the storm system but will drop into the upper 20s and lower 30s over night. Monday temperatures will be in the mid 30s, Lasorsa says.

The storm will begin as rain then move to a snow/mix before changing to all snow. However the service is not predicting accumulation totals yet, he says.

Weather Channel

The Weather Channel has a forecast that will send snow lovers headed to the nearest ski resort.

Weather Channel forecasters are predicting as much as 4 inches of snow along the Interstate 95 corridor including portions of Northern Virginia, D.C. and Maryland.

Mountain areas in both Western Virginia and Western Maryland could see more than six inches of the white stuff.

The snow will begin as rain and will cause poor travel conditions overnight and for both the morning and afternoon commutes Monday.

Stay with WTOP for updates as the storm approaches.

Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on Facebook.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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