Storms arrive early Thursday AM; flood watch in effect for DC area
Another round of severe weather arrived in parts of the D.C. area Wednesday night and continued into early Thursday morning after storms from earlier in the week brought heavy rain and at least one tornado.
The latest:
- A flood watch is effect for the D.C. area until 5 a.m. Thursday.
- Severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Charles County, Maryland, until 1:30 a.m. Thursday. A warning for Prince William County, Virginia, was canceled early.
The temperature heated up quickly Wednesday morning, said Storm Team4’s Mike Stinneford, which increases the chance for severe thunderstorms later as a cold front stalls across the region. The cold front will remain stalled through Friday night.
As the front continues to push south, showers and thunderstorms will impact the D.C. region into Thursday morning, Storm Team4 Chad Merrill said. Heavy rain may produce flash flooding in areas north of Route 50.
“Heavy downpours will linger through the morning commute and then as the front settles farther south, a few patches of clearing will occur early Thursday afternoon,” Merrill said. “Still, with the front lingering just south of D.C. on Thursday afternoon, there will be only isolated coverage of showers and thunderstorms during the late afternoon, fading by sunset.”
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With the lingering front, Stinneford said wind damage would be the main threat in addition to the flooding.
“A stronger cold front will push through on Saturday, and we will finally get a break from the rain and the humidity on Sunday,” Stinneford said.
Forecast
Thursday: Scattered showers and storms producing localized flooding. Highs in the upper 60s to the low 70s.
Thursday Afternoon: Partly sunny. Isolated showers and thunderstorms, best chance between Noon-4 p.m. Still humid. Highs in the mid to upper 80s.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear with a patchy fog. Lows in the lower 70s.
Friday: Dry through most of the day then showers and thunderstorms likely late in the evening. Localized flash flooding possible. Highs in the upper 80s.
Saturday: Cloudy in the morning, then rain in the early afternoon. Slow clearing afterwards. Cooler and slightly less humid. Highs in the lower 80s.
Sunday: Mostly sunny and less humid. Highs in the low 80s.