Heavy rain is soaking the D.C. area with a potential for flooding, hail and damaging winds ahead of a cold front’s arrival late Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what you need to know.
There’s a possibility for an isolated tornado as the cold front moves through, according to the National Weather Service.
“We’re going with a ‘severe alert’ because along this line, it has had a history of producing some severe weather,” said 7News First Alert Chief Meteorologist Veronica Johnson.
The ground is still saturated after a wet Tuesday across the D.C. region, meaning a new round of rain coming in from Ohio and West Virginia will create an elevated risk for flash flooding.
Johnson said these storms brought tornadoes and large hail to the Ohio and Tennessee Valley area Tuesday. For the D.C. area, the risk for some smaller hail and damaging winds in excess of 55 to 60 mph remains on Wednesday.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for most of the D.C. area through Wednesday afternoon, with 1-2 inches of rainfall expected and up to 3 inches possible in some areas. Anne Arundel County shorelines are under a coastal flood advisory until 4 p.m., while D.C. shorelines are under the same flood advisory till 6 p.m.
A cold front will sweep through the area later today, bringing renewed chances for strong to severe thunderstorms. Main threats will be damaging winds, large hail and isolated to scattered instances of flooding. An isolated tornado is also possible. — https://t.co/5RyZgpeTAT pic.twitter.com/0uRGFhGR1I
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) April 3, 2024
High temperatures will reach near 60 degrees Wednesday before things cool down Thursday, when highs reach the mid-50s. The potential for spotty showers remains Thursday, before sunshine returns Friday with highs in the lower 50s, according to Johnson.
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Full forecast
WEDNESDAY: FLOOD ALERT
Rain likely, heavy at times
Thunderstorm risk, some strong to severe
Highs: 55-62
Winds: East to Northwest 5-15+ mph
More rain is in the forecast, as a cold front approaches. The ground is saturated from recent rain, especially north of D.C., so additional rainfall today could result in flooding. A Flood Watch is in effect until 6 p.m. There is also the risk of strong to severe thunderstorms, as the cold front passes through the D.C. area. The Storm Prediction Center has much of the D.C. Metro in the Level 2 of 5 risk category today. That means a few storms could contain damaging winds and hail. While not zero, the chance for a weak tornado in the area is low.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT:
Rain ending, clearing skies
Lows: 39-45
Winds: West 5-10 mph
The cold front sweeping through Wednesday will help clear out the skies and moisture in the atmosphere overnight. It will be a welcome sight to see the stars in the night sky. It will also be a welcome sight to see the sunrise Thursday morning.
THURSDAY:
Partly sunny, blustery
Afternoon shower chance
Highs: 53-57
Winds: West to Southwest 5-15 mph
It will be nice to see some blue sky early in the morning, after such a gray start to the week. Morning sun will fade behind the clouds by the afternoon with a few showers possible, as an upper level system moves overhead. Rainfall totals will only be a few hundredths of an inch for those that get any rain.
