Tropical Storm Nate Is Headed For Herndon

HERNDON, VA -- In an unwelcome fall surprise -- especially in light of the devastation already wrought by several hurricanes this season -- Tropical Storm Nate has formed in the Gulf and could strike New Orleans as a hurricane this weekend. And forecasters expect the storm to bring adverse weather to the D.C. area.

Nate, which is currently sitting just off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and southwest of Cuba, is expected to speed into the middle of the gulf and strengthen to a category 1 hurricane just before it makes landfall somewhere in the New Orleans area before weakening back to a tropical storm.

After that, it's expected to take a turn northeast and head straight for the D.C. area. Of course, by the time it makes it to us, it will be a tropical depression at best. But that could still mean quite a bit of rain for our region.

Tropical Storm Nate may unload some much-needed heavy rain over Washington https://t.co/rtj2avdlSw
— Post Local (@postlocal) October 6, 2017

And the D.C. area needs the moisture, the Capital Weather Gang says. Believe it or not, it's been 22 days since we've gotten any rain at all.

When could Nate arrive? We're looking at Sunday, most likely, although the heaviest rain would likely happen on Monday. We could get about one or two inches of rain, which would pretty much fix any problems caused by dry conditions lately.

Image via NOAA's National Hurricane Center