Scattered showers and storms are pelting parts of the region after sweltering summer temperatures Tuesday broke the record for the most 90-degree days in a single month in the D.C. area.
The storms are localized around D.C. and areas to the south and will fizzle out by midnight, Storm Team4 meteorologist Amelia Draper said.
Around 6:30 p.m., Storm Team4 meteorologist Briana Bermensolo reported hail the size of a penny in Stafford County, Virginia.
A flash flood watch has been issued until 11 p.m. for the D.C. area.
Multiple rounds of thunderstorms are possible, which could lead to 2 to 3 inches in some areas in a short amount of time, the weather service said. The sudden heavy downpours could result in rapid rises of small streams and creeks and areas where there is poor drainage.
In addition to flooding rains, the weather service said the storms could contain winds and frequent lightning.
WEATHER ALERT! A Flash Flood Watch is in effect from 3pm-11pm this afternoon and evening as strong to severe storms are expected later today. You know we will be all of this so stay with #StormTeam4 all afternoon. See you at 4,5&6! pic.twitter.com/7iR5v3SPqb
— Doug Kammerer (@dougkammerer) July 28, 2020
A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. The alert was issued for D.C., parts of Montgomery, Charles and Prince George’s counties in Maryland, and Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax and Prince William counties in Virginia.
Sizzle before the storms
Ahead of the storms, there were sizzling temperatures, with highs in the mid-90s.
Earlier, Tuesday afternoon, the weather service said Reagan National Airport officially hit 90 degrees for the 26th day this month, busting the record the record for the most 90-degree days in any month in the D.C. area. The previous record was July 2011, when there were 25 90-degree days.
#DCA just hit 90º F for the 26th day this month. This breaks the record for most 90º+ F days in ANY month in the DC area (previous record was 25 days in July 2011). Records go back to 1872 (previously recorded downtown).
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 28, 2020
Southern Maryland and parts of Virginia are under a heat advisory. Heat index values there were expected to climb to 107 Tuesday afternoon.
The heat advisory lasts until 8 p.m. Tuesday.
The heat index advisory is for Calvert, Charles and Saint Mary’s counties in Maryland, as well as Stafford, Spotsylvania and King George counties in Virginia.
With a few days to go, this month is already on pace to be one of the hottest Julys in the region on record, according to Storm Team 4 meteorologist Chuck Bell.
We’ll be sweating it out for the next few days but there are signs that August will start out a little cooler! That would be a nice change of pace after this sweltering July – one of the 3 hottest Julys on record. Storms could be strong late Tuesday so stay with @nbcwashington. pic.twitter.com/ajiuykKYhW
— Chuck Bell (@ChuckBell4) July 27, 2020
