DC region forecast: Steady rain and a chance of afternoon thunderstorms

With high temperatures nearing 70 degrees and a risk of an afternoon thundershower, you might as well put away the coat and pretend it’s spring for a day — if you don’t mind the heavy rain.

With high temperatures nearing 70 degrees and a risk of an afternoon thundershower, you might as well put away the coat and pretend it’s spring for a day — if you don’t mind the heavy rain.

A formidable duo of cold fronts will impact the D.C. region through Monday in two distinct waves of poor weather. Steady and at-times heavy rain will make for a soggy morning commute before tapering off around noon, leaving totals in the 1 to 2-inch range.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • Rain rushes in early: Most of the region will wake up to heavy rain likely to last until late morning.
  • 1-2 inches before noon: Roads are slick out there — use caution on roadways and make for extra travel time, particularly on low-lying highways vulnerable to pooling water.
  • Isolated afternoon storms: Breaks of sunshine and a rapid warm-up will contribute to risk of strong thunderstorms between noon and 4 p.m. Monday.
  • December chill returns Tuesday: Don’t stow away the jacket for too long — Tuesday’s highs are back in the low to mid 40s and likely to stay there for the rest of the workweek.


Lunchtime could see drier conditions, but don’t get lured into a false sense of security: A moist atmosphere and peeks of sunshine could mean a rare, late season rumble of thunder. The forecast calls for line of storms — some potentially severe — to impact the Interstate 95 corridor early Monday afternoon.

“A powerful storm that has pushed accumulating snow as far south as Tennessee will push super-mild air northward into the mid-Atlantic,” NBC Washington meteorologist Chuck Bell told WTOP. “Even with heavy rain early, most of our area will get close to 70 degrees this afternoon.”

The National Weather Service has the D.C. and Baltimore metro areas under a “slight” risk of severe weather on Monday afternoon, the third highest of five threat categories. Computer models suggest storms will form over Western Maryland around noon and sweep eastward, reaching D.C. and Baltimore between noon and 4 p.m.

Damaging gusts are the main threat in any storms that form. An isolated tornado can’t be ruled out, mainly east of the I-95 corridor into Delmarva.

It’s an unusually active weather pattern, especially considering that Tuesday marks the beginning of what forecasters term meteorological winter, or the three months of the year (December, January and February) where the Northern Hemisphere sees its lowest average temperatures.

Storms are expected to clear out in time for evening commute. Colder air will rush in behind the fronts, Bell said, with a stiff westerly wind bringing temperatures near freezing late tonight into Tuesday morning.

Garrett County in far Western Maryland and much of West Virginia are under a winter storm warning for expected snow totals of between 4 and 8 inches from Tuesday night into Wednesday. A stray snow shower might wander into the capital region early Tuesday, but the forecast doesn’t call for any accumulating snow outside the mountains at least through early next week.


Forecast:

Monday: Periods of heavy rain with afternoon thunderstorms possible. Some storms could be severe. Highs near 70, with wind gusts over 40 mph.

Monday night: Rain ends in the evening. Cloudy and much colder, with lows in the upper 30s to low 40s.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, blustery and cold. A passing sprinkle possible. Highs in the low to mid 40s.

Wednesday: Sunny and cold. Breezy at times. Highs in the low to mid 40s.

Thursday: Freezing cold morning and a chilly afternoon. Increasing clouds, warming to the upper 40s to low 50s.


Current conditions:

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