VA, DC Weather: Record Heat Coming After Storms With 50MPH Winds

VIRGINIA — Tuesday afternoon storms could pack strong wind gusts and small hail across the Northern Virginia-DC region, while record heat is predicted for Thursday in the state, the National Weather Service said. A wind advisory is in place for the area, and outdoor burning is not recommended.

The official high for Feb. 23 is 78 degrees in Washington, D.C., and at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, sent in 1874, the NWS said. Forecasts call for Thursday's high to hit 80.

Tuesday into the evening the area is under a hazardous weather outlook for the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay, tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and District of Columbia.

A wind advisory is in effect for the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. West winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts around 40 to 50 mph are expected across central Virginia, northern Virginia, and the Shenandoah Valley.

These winds will be accompanied by minimum relative humidity values of 20 to 30 percent. Although fuels are relatively damp because of recent rainfall, they will quickly dry out, leading to an elevated threat for the spread of wildfires.

"Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged during this time," the weather service said. "If you do burn, use extreme caution and ensure fire suppression is readily available."

The wind advisory includes: the District of Columbia, Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Fauquier, Loudoun, plus the cities of Charlottesville, Dale City, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Montclair, Reston, Herndon, Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, McLean, Franconia, Warrenton, Leesburg, Ashburn, and Sterling.

Showers and an isolated thunderstorm may produce strong gusty winds Tuesday afternoon across the D.C. and Baltimore metros, the NWS said. The turbulent weather week ends with a chance of snow.

A massive winter storm that will stretch 2,600 miles from coast to coast across the northern United States this week will unload heavy snow over the Upper Midwest while also spreading an icy mix to the northern New England coast, AccuWeather meteorologists said. But that same storm system will deliver the summer-like warm on Thursday.

"In the storm's warm sector, showers may be accompanied by thunder and lightning from the Ozarks and Ohio Valley to the central Appalachians and mid-Atlantic regions," AccuWeather said.

Here's the forecast for the DC region:

Tuesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 2pm, then isolated showers between 2pm and 3pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. West wind 9 to 14 mph becoming light and variable. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.

Wednesday: Rain likely, mainly between 10am and 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Southeast wind 6 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of rain after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Southeast wind 8 to 11 mph becoming south after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Breezy.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Breezy.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Saturday: A chance of snow before 1pm, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Chance of precipitation is 50%.