Community Corner

Possibly Damaging Storms Headed to DC Thursday

Weather forecast: Meteorologists say to expect one storm Thursday morning, another in the late afternoon and evening.

Update, 1:50 p.m. Thursday

In parts of DC, blue skies are breaking through the clouds and it’s looking like a nice early summer day—just a bit warm, humid and windy.

Don’t get complacent yet.

Find out what's happening in Georgetownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The region remains under a severe thunderstorm watch until 7 p.m. and a flash flood watch until 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

“The bottom line is that the storm system coming through remains very dynamic and, given some fuel (sunshine and rising temperatures are key), has the potential to ignite some strong to severe thunderstorms.” The Capital Weather Gang’s Jason Samenow wrote Thursday.

Find out what's happening in Georgetownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This afternoon’s storms could bring an additional inch or two of rain with it, the National Weather Service warns.

NBC 4’s Chuck Bell wrote, “Our risk for severe weather will only increase with time during the late afternoon hours.  Severe thunderstorms could reach the Capital Beltway at the beginning of the afternoon commute around 4pm and continue up to around 8pm.”

As of about 1:45 p.m. Thursday, radar images showed a line of strong storms just west of Harrisonburg and Staunton, Va. 

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Original Post - 8 a.m. Thursday

A large line of storms that has spawned tornadoes and knocked out power in the Midwest is headed to the DC metro area—but forecasters are still unsure if our area will see a derecho like last June. 

Regardless of the type of storm, the DC area is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch by the National Weather Service until 11 a.m. for the first round. The area is under a Flash Flood Watch until 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. 

The massive storm systems will sweep through the DC area in a one-two punch: one Thursday morning and another, more severe storm in the late afternoon and early evening.

The National Weather Service issued this warning Thursday morning for our region:

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND A FEW TORNADOES OVER PARTS OF THE MID ATLANTIC STATES TODAY.

Preparing for the stormy weather, federal offices are open Thursday, but the Office of Personnel Management is giving federal workers the option to take unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework.

The pending weather could impact transportation:

What time will the DC area see storms Thursday?

NBC-4 meteorologist Tom Kiernan said Thursday morning there is a 90 percent chance the area will get hit by thunderstorms between 8:30-10 a.m. Thursday, and a 100 percent chance of getting hit by a stronger storm between 4-8 p.m. Northern Virginia could see some sunshine between storms, he noted.

The DC area has a "high risk" of damaging winds Thursday afternoon, winds up to 60 miles per hour, flooding and isolated tornados, according to Storm Team 4. 

Friday should see lower humidity with highs in the 70s.


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