Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms Threaten NoVA Wednesday Evening

Heavy rain and possible thunderstorms will arrive in Northern Virginia late Wednesday afternoon, according to forecasters, bringing a chance of damaging winds and a brief tornado to the greater Washington, D.C. region.

Up to an inch of rain is predicted to fall on Wednesday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service. Locally higher totals are possible within thunderstorms.

Thunderstorms are most likely between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., forecasters said. Wind gusts could top 20 mph on Wednesday afternoon.

Forecasters said the rain expected to fall will be a good, soaking rain for many areas in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor released on Thursday, over 58 percent of the 12-state (and District of Columbia) Northeast climate region, from West Virginia, D.C., and Maryland northward, is at least abnormally dry, with 42 percent in drought conditions. This is mostly concentrated in areas east of the Appalachians from Pennsylvania north, but includes most of the area south of the Pennsylvania-Maryland border, where drought was most intense.

Sunny and clear weather is expected the rest of the week into the weekend, though there is a chance of showers Friday afternoon into the evening hours. Highs will be in the low to mid-60s, but nighttime temperatures will drop below normal.

"The chill arriving late this week will be driven by a large storm in the jet stream, rather than a sprawling area of Arctic high pressure," Accuweather said. "Systems like this tend to produce breezes and areas of low clouds that can linger after dark. The breeze helps prevent the coldest air from settling near the ground, while cloud cover acts like a blanket, limiting how much heat escapes."

Here's a look at the detailed National Weather Service forecast for the D.C. region:

Wednesday Afternoon: Showers likely, mainly after 5pm. Cloudy, with a high near 66. South wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers between 11pm and midnight. Low around 53. Southeast wind 8 to 17 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Northwest wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Northwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday: A chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. West wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday: A chance of showers after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 64.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 71.