Severe Storms With Tornadoes, 75 MPH Winds, Snow In VA Forecast Monday

Severe thunderstorms posing a threat of tornadoes, heavy rains, damaging winds with gusts up to 75 mph and an eventual change to snow are all possible Monday as a powerful storm moves into the D.C. region from Sunday night into Monday, forecasters say.

"Meteorologists are sounding the alarm for a widespread multiday severe risk stretching across the central and eastern United States from Sunday afternoon into Monday," Accuweather said. "Over a dozen states will be at risk for severe thunderstorms."

As thunderstorms move eastward toward the Eastern Seaboard, so will the risk of severe weather. At least some risk for severe thunderstorms is expected from Florida to New York, the private weather service said. AccuWeather meteorologists have upgraded the risk to high from just north of Baltimore to Columbia, South Carolina.

Rain will fall overnight into early Monday morning, dumping as much as inch on parts of the state, the National Weather Service said.

"The storms’ timing still needs to be pinned down, but they are most probable between about 1 and 7 p.m. Monday, when an organized and violent squall line is expected to pass," the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang forecast. "That said, widely scattered showers and storms, some of which could be intense, are possible before this window, as early as 9 or 10 a.m. Rain is expected to linger after the most intense storms pass in the evening."

Commuting Concerns

During the day on Monday, heavy rain and winds could cause problems on roads and airports.

"Downpours reducing visibility and causing ponding on roadways can also impact the [Monday] evening commute," Accuweather said. "Ground stops can also occur at airports throughout the region."

Forecasters also warned that a "March Megastorm" — which is expected to bring blizzard conditions to the Midwest on Monday — will likely impact the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

"Wind gusts of 40-60 mph are expected across the central and eastern U.S. Sunday and Monday, from New Mexico to Maine," they say. "These winds alone can create hazardous travel for high-profile vehicles and may bring down tree limbs and power lines, especially in areas already weakened by recent storms."

Snow Later

The cold front may lead to snowfall on Monday night as temperatures drop into the upper 20 and low 30s. There's an 80 percent chance of snow in northern Virginia, but it should only amount to a half inch or less, the NWS says.

Temperatures will fall drastically, with a daytime high of 70 degrees expected on Monday, but only a high of 38 on Tuesday. Daytime highs will reach the upper-50s by the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service.

Here's the Virginia forecast for the week ahead from the National Weather Service:

Sunday Afternoon: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. Southeast wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Sunday Night:
Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5am. Low around 53. Southeast wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 71. Breezy, with a south wind 17 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Rain showers, mixing with snow after 11pm, then gradually ending. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 28. Blustery, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. West wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 41.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 51.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.