Strong to severe storms cross D.C. area late evening, causing few issues (2024)

National Airport reported a gust to 47 mph with showers and storms passing by earlier. Quantico recorded a gust of 48 mph.

While light to moderate rain may persist for another hour or two in and around Washington, and some showers remain possible through the pre-dawn, the severe weather risk is ending.

Temperatures should fall to the low and mid-70s most spots, with humidity beginning to fall off around sunrise. Still warm, but less humid and a bit of a breeze for Thursday. Highs reach the upper 80s to near 90s.

This will be our final update unless warranted.

9:43 p.m. — Warning for southern Beltway and south

Storms passing Dale City, Occoquan and Newington are headed east and will pass just south of D.C.

A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for the storm until 10:00 p.m., for the potential of wind gusts up to 60 mph. Locations in line include Mount Vernon, Alexandria, Acco*keek and Piscataway.

The strongest storms are generally south of Washington, but rain and rumbles will also pass through the city and locations northward shortly.

9:06 p.m. — Storms gathering southwest

Storms to the southwest of the immediate area have prompted another severe thunderstorm warning. It runs until 9:45 p.m., bumping into Manassas and Dale City by then. This complex will have eyes on the immediate area thereafter.

9:00 p.m. — Severe thunderstorm watch until midnight

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for the whole area until midnight for the storms now passing through. The main risk will be isolated damaging wind gusts, in addition to heavy rain and frequent lightning.

8:45 p.m. — Main round of storms arriving

After a quiet start to the evening, the next and most widespread round of showers and storms is entering the area from the west.

A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect through 9 p.m. for parts of Loudoun, Fauquier, Prince William and surrounding counties. The potential for some strong gusts will approach The Plains to Purcellville shortly.

Another severe storm warning is also up until 9:15 p.m. to the south of that between Madison and Culpeper. Storms in this zone are more intense overall and are headed northeast toward the area.

The leading edge of storminess should reach the Interstate 95 corridor by 10 p.m.

5:22 p.m. — first round of storms passing by

The Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning that includes La Plata, Waldorf, Brandywine and surrounding locations. The storm may contain damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph. It is moving northeast from Charles County into southern Prince George’s County.

Farther north, just rain and some rumbles to the southern Beltway, and not much it seems.

From 1 p.m...

Afternoon temperatures heading deep into the 90s, rising humidity and an approaching cold front are setting the table for a significant thunderstorm threat in the D.C. region late Wednesday afternoon and evening. Although severe weather is unwelcome, any rainfall associated with it is much needed.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed the area under a Level 2 of 5 severe weather risk. Storms could produce heavy rain, dangerous lightning, wind gusts near or over 60 mph and large hail up to 1 inch in diameter. There could be more than one round of storms, with several inches of rain and localized flooding possible in those places that see multiple storms.

Storms could move in from west to east as soon as mid- to late afternoon. Any storms during this period have the best chance of turning severe, but it’s uncertain how many storms will develop. There’s higher confidence in more numerous storms Wednesday evening, but it’s less certain whether there will still be enough energy in the atmosphere for them to be strong to severe.

The scenario Wednesday includes an approaching cold front in the lower atmosphere and a disturbance in the upper-level flow, both running into an unstable atmosphere across the Mid-Atlantic.

Weather models suggest the potential for two or more distinct rounds of showers and storms.

The first batch is a less certain. It could develop in the high terrain to the west or along a subtle wind shift in the lee of the Appalachians, perhaps around 3 to 5 p.m., with storms potentially passing near the Beltway and Interstate 95 around 5 to 7 p.m.

Additional storminess is likely later Wednesday evening ahead of the front. It could last several hours, with the heaviest rain and most boisterous thunderstorms moving through around 9 p.m. to midnight, and lingering rains continuing into the overnight hours.

How much the atmosphere destabilizes, and thus becomes conducive to severe storms, depends in part on the amount of cloud cover through the afternoon. But there’s a good chance that a moderate amount of “storm fuel” will develop, given the intense heat and abundant moisture in the atmosphere. Strengthening winds aloft could foster organization of storm cells into longer-lived clusters, especially in the evening.

The chief hazards include pockets of damaging winds caused by downbursts, which are thunderstorm winds that blow downward and then fan out when reaching the ground. Intense lightning will also accompany any potent storms.

Repeated passage of storms over several hours could lead to some instances of flooding, particularly during the evening. About 2 to 3 inches could fall in a few locations. It’s also not out of the question that nearby spots end up closer to dry.

June rainfall is running about 3 to 4 inches below average, or less than 25 percent of what’s typical in D.C. and to the south, during what is usually one of the wettest months of the year. Drought reentered the area last week and is probably expanding, given the hot and dry conditions of late.