There’s still one more day left in this February leap year but it’s going out like a lion after hitting the the D.C.-area with a “double-barrel threat” of gusty winds and thunderstorms Wednesday night. Here’s what you need to know.
A developing squall line head of a strong cold front swept through the D.C. area Wednesday evening, bringing heavy winds and rain, WTOP meteorologist Mike Stinneford said.
The storms passed overnight, but wind gusts of up to 50 to 60 mph remained until after midnight.
“The big story will be the very high winds along and behind the front later tonight,” which could cause some damage, Stinneford said.
Just before 8 p.m., a wind gust of 53 mph was measured in Leesburg, Virginia, according to Stinneford.
Winds gusts of more than 50 mph were also clocked at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and Stinneford said there were “widespread reports of wind gusts of 35-45 mph across the region” that led to “some trees and some power lines coming down.”
Fallen power lines are still affecting the D.C. region Thursday morning, with hundreds of homes and businesses without power.
Dominion Energy is reporting about 900 homes and businesses in Fairfax County are without power as of 5 a.m. Thursday There were still about two hundred Dominion Energy customers in the dark in both Loudoun and Arlington counties as well.
The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for the region from 6 p.m. until 4 a.m. Thursday.
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Temperatures fell quickly overnight, with wake-up temperatures around the freezing mark. Wind chills are in the 20s by Thursday morning, 7News First Alert meteorologist Brian van de Graaff said.
Leap day Thursday will be cold and blustery. Northwesterly winds will make temperatures feel like the 20s and 30s throughout the day with high temperatures in the 40s.
A strong cold front will bring heavy rain & high winds to the region later today. Southerly winds are gusting up to 25 mph this morning with 40-55 mph gusts expected later this afternoon-tonight as the front passes. Winds will continue Thursday before diminishing Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/sLz01YdJh6
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) February 28, 2024
Forecast
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Showers ending. Clearing, windy and colder. Lows in the upper 20s to mid-30s
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny and breezy. Highs 45 to 50
FRIDAY: Increasing cloudiness and warmer. Highs in the mid-50s
SATURDAY: Showers. Highs near 60
SUNDAY: Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 60s
Current weather
Power Outages Map
The map below contains current power outages in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. This map is updated every 10 minutes.
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