Weather
NoVA Weather: Tornado, Hail Possible With Afternoon Storms
Afternoon thunderstorms could bring strong winds, hail and tornadoes to northern Virginia and DC in time for the evening commute.
VIRGINIA — There is a risk of hail and tornadoes as drivers head home Thursday afternoon across the Washington, D.C., region, according to forecasts.
Storms with up to 40 mph wind gusts and possible hail will move across DC and northern Virginia, the National Weather Service said. There is also a tornado risk, prompting the service to issue a hazardous weather outlook for parts of the region.
Isolated showers and storms will become more numerous this afternoon into this evening. Some may become severe with damaging wind gusts, large hail, or even an isolated tornado. Stay weather aware today, the weather service said.
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Areas under the hazardous weather outlook include: the District of Columbia, plus Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Stafford, Spotsylvania and King George.
Storms will be at peak intensity across parts of New York, central and eastern Pennsylvania and northern portions of Maryland and Virginia Thursday evening, AccuWeather said.
Find out what's happening in Across Virginiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"People in these areas should be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions where fast-moving and strengthening storms can bring frequent lightning strikes, damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding," AccuWeather meteorologists say.
Here's the latest DC/northern Virginia forecast:
Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Southwest wind 5 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 66. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 56.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
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