2 Storms Forecast To Hit Virginia This Weekend: Details On Timing

VIRGINIA — A pair of storms will dampen weekend plans for Virginia residents, and the forecast rain and wind could be severe by the start of next week.

AccuWeather predicts that the first storm will be the weaker of the two systems and affect Virginia Friday, bringing steady rain to the Baltimore-DC region after 8 a.m. and localized flash flooding to some communities.

The combination of the two storms will bring a general 1–2 inches of rain, with local amounts between 2 and 4 inches, AccuWeather said. That is enough rain to alleviate dry conditions but leave some yards and athletic fields saturated.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook Friday for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay, tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and District of Columbia.

Specific communities at risk of hazardous weather include the District of Columbia, Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park.

Localized flooding is possible in the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas late Friday afternoon and evening, the weather service said. A gale warning is in effect until 1 a.m.

About 2 to 4 inches of rain could fall Friday throughout the day and into the evening in parts of the region, the National Weather Service said. Current weather models show that showers will be heaviest Friday night.

Also expect sustained winds of 16 miles per hour on Friday night with gusts of 23 mph possible Friday night into Saturday morning that could blow down tree branches, NWS forecasters said.

The first storm — which is the weaker of the two — will still pack plenty of rain and stir up winds along the mid-Atlantic coast for a time, AccuWeather said. By Friday morning, rain has already spread over portions of Virginia and western Maryland. That drenching rain will continue to expand northeastward through the day Friday across much of the rest of the mid-Atlantic region.

Drivers should expect wet driving conditions much of Friday in Washington, D.C. The same storm will kick up winds along the mid-Atlantic coast from eastern North Carolina to New Jersey on Friday, AccuWeather forecasters say.

A spell of dry weather may only be limited to a few hours during Saturday afternoon or evening in the central Appalachians and mid-Atlantic.

"By Sunday, much of the central Appalachians and mid-Atlantic will be dealing with more drenching rain," AccuWeather predicts. "Downpours, including some thunder and lightning in some locations, will persist in this area well into Sunday night.

Since the second storm will be stronger than the first, winds along the coast from the Delmarva Peninsula to New York City and eastern New England will be stronger. Most wind gusts will range between 40 and 50 mph, but a few stronger gusts are likely.

"The strongest winds will be on the front side of the second storm with a six- to 12-hour period where easterly gusts to 60 mph are possible along the coast from Delaware and New Jersey to Maine," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said. "These onshore winds combined with astronomical tides will lead to coastal flooding and beach erosion."

Conditions will rapidly improve in the mid-Atlantic from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia and New York City during the midday hours on Monday.

AccuWeather forecasters said the second storm could develop into a “bomb cyclone” or bombogenesis, when a storm with low pressure strengthens rapidly. Temperatures could fall into the 30s, as well, and the rain and wind could cause localized power outages.

Here is a look at the extended weather forecast for DC and Northern Virginia:

Friday: Rain. High near 59. Breezy, with an east wind 18 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday Night: Rain. Low around 56. East wind 9 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Saturday: A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Northwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday Night: A chance of rain before 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2am and 5am, then a chance of showers after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. East wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday: A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 8am. High near 68. Southeast wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Breezy.