Storms late Thursday could bring hail, winds, tornado risk to DC area

    Thursday’s heat and humidity cleared the way for severe evening thunderstorms in parts of the D.C. region.

    The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for northwestern Fauquier, central Warren and north central Rappahannock counties after a powerful storm was spotted near Front Royal, Virginia. That warning is set to expire at 5 p.m.

    7News First Alert Meteorologist Steve Rudin said the storms could bring damaging winds and potentially large hail.

    Central and northeastern Maryland could bear the brunt of the storms, seeing pockets of heavy rainfall that could flood some areas. And a week after a confirmed tornado in Queen Anne’s County, Rudin said, “an isolated spin-up cannot be ruled out, especially farther north and northeast.”

    “The severe threat should begin winding down after about 9 or 10 p.m.,” he said.

    The National Weather Service, meanwhile, sent out a severe thunderstorm watch for D.C.; 14 counties in Maryland, including Montgomery, Prince George’s, Howard and Anne Arundel; and 24 counties in Virginia — a list that includes Arlington, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Culpeper and Fairfax counties, as well as the independent Northern Virginia cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park.

    The NWS watch is set to end at 10 p.m. But a few isolated storms could pop-up after midnight.

    More showers and thunderstorms are in Friday’s afternoon and evening forecast as a cold front works its way through the region, but the risk of severe weather is considerably lower.

    Over the weekend, the weather is expected to be sunnier and drier, with temperatures in the mid-80s, but both the temperatures and the humidity could climb again beginning Monday.

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    Full forecast

    THURSDAY EVENING: Areas of rain and storms. Temperatures in the 70s to 80s.
    Winds: South 5-10 mph

    THURSDAY NIGHT: Rain and storms ending with patchy fog. Lows between 65 and 70.
    Winds: Light

    FRIDAY: Partly cloudy with stray storms. Highs between 83 and 88.
    Winds: South 5-10 mph

    SATURDAY: Partly sunny with highs near 85.
    Winds: Northeast 5-10 mph

    SUNDAY: Partly cloudy with highs between 85 and 90.
    Winds: Southwest 10-15 mph

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