A tornado threat, severe thunderstorms, gusty winds and heavy rain are due for the District, Maryland and Virginia into Sunday evening. Here’s what you need to know.
After a wet and windy Saturday, forecasters are looking ahead to the potential for more storms later in the day that could prompt alerts for larger portions of the D.C. metro area Sunday afternoon.
Passing showers & areas of fog/low clouds this morning will give way to sct’d to numerous storms this afternoon. The primary threat with storms today (2-10pm) looks be damaging winds, localized flooding, & an isolated tornado. Highs temps today in the 80s east of the mtns. pic.twitter.com/XddbffoiPc
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 18, 2024
The National Weather Service said there’s even a risk of an isolated tornado, 7News First Alert Meteorologist Jordan Evans added that the “risk is very low, but not zero.”
“A trough of low pressure will cross our area from west to east. This will be a focusing mechanism for thunderstorms, and there will be a risk of severe storms tomorrow afternoon and evening … looking at a 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. time frame,” WTOP Meteorologist Mike Stinneford said. “Main threats will be damaging winds and very heavy rainfall, but there also could be a few tornadoes.”
The storms aren’t expected to be a washout, according to 7News First Alert Meteorologist Mark Peña, but could net up to an inch of rainfall for the drought stricken capital region.
“Localized flooding will be possible, especially for areas that see prolonged periods of moderate to heavy rain,” he said.
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Monday shows signs of bringing wet, although not as severe, conditions through the District, Maryland and Virginia as a cold front enters the region, Stinneford said. But the rest of the workweek is shaping up to be not as drab.
“Want some good news? Beautiful weather is coming our way Tuesday through Thursday with pleasant temperatures and low humidity,” he said.
WTOP’s Ivy Lyons contributed to this report.
7News First Alert Forecast
TODAY: STORM ALERT: Mostly cloudy. Showers, storms later in the day. Highs in the 80s.
Winds: Southeast 5-10 mph
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 70s to lower 80s.
Winds: Northwest 5-10 mph
MONDAY: Scattered showers, storms. Highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s.
Winds: Northwest 5-10 mph
TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs in the 70s.
Winds: Northwest 5-10 mph
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs in the middle to upper 70s.
Winds: North 5-10 mph
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