Severe Thunderstorms Possible In NoVA Ahead Of Multiple Temperature Swings

Thunderstorms are expected to target Northern Virginia on Wednesday and could bring damaging winds, large hail and possible tornadoes to parts of the state, according to the latest forecasts.

Well-above-normal temperatures will precede the storm, according to the National Weather Service, with temperatures in the mid-70s and possibly exceeding 80 degrees on Wednesday afternoon.

This is ahead of a powerful cold front, which will bring a substantial change to the weather, forecasters said.

Severe thunderstorms are possible on Wednesday
afternoon and evening as the cold front pushes through the state.

In its latest update, the NWS Storm Prediction Center expanded the "Slight Risk" (level 2 out of 5) to include all of Northern Virginia. It also highlighted an elevated risk of tornadoes just west of the D.C. area into the Potomac Highlands and Western Maryland.

According to forecasts, the storm's biggest impacts will be rain, damaging winds gusting between 30 and 40 mph, and large hail; however, it's uncertain how widespread they will be, The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang wrote.

"Some models show hefty storms passing by during the late afternoon and early evening. Others suggest they’ll be more spotty and concentrated to the north and west," the Capital Weather Gang wrote.

Showers are expected to linger into the morning hours on Thursday as the storm system moves through the state. This will be followed by a series of cold fronts crossing the area into
early next week, leading to multiple temperature swings.

Temperatures are expected to take a 15- to 30-degree dive on Thursday before warming again this weekend. The D.C. region should see temperatures in the mid- to upper 50s on Saturday and then 50s to low 60s on Sunday.

Temperatures will fall again early next week, ushering in a return to more winter-like conditions.

"Next week brings another cool to cold snap by Tuesday and Wednesday, with even a chance of some wet snowflakes on Tuesday morning," the Capital Weather Gang wrote.

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

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. South wind around 8 mph.

Wednesday: A chance of rain after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Wednesday Morning: Rain likely, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind 16 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday: Rain likely, mainly before 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Breezy, with a northwest wind 21 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Windy.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. Breezy.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65.