NoVA, DC Under Severe Thunderstorm Watch, Damaging Winds Possible

WASHINGTON, DC — Severe weather is expected in parts of northern Virginia and the District of Columbia Tuesday afternoon with the potential for damaging winds, flooding and power outages. The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch that is in effect until 11 p.m.

And more severe weather is expected late in the week as remnants of Hurricane Laura are expected to hit the state.

The National Weather Service said showers and thunderstorms associated with a cold front are expected to move through D.C. and northern Virginia Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Damaging wind gusts from scattered severe thunderstorms are possible, with the greatest risk over the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area eastward toward the Chesapeake Bay. The weather service said severe storms are also possible Wednesday afternoon and evening.

“Clusters of severe thunderstorms will move southeast through this evening with a risk for damaging wind gusts and isolated instances of large hail,” the Weather Service said.

Storms are most likely to develop between 5 and 10 p.m. Tuesday, although isolated showers and storms could pop up earlier, according to The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang.

Communities included in the severe thunderstorm watch are: Washington, D.C., Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Loudoun, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fauquier, and Prince William.

By Saturday, the region could be hit with damaging wind gusts from severe thunderstorms as the remainder of Laura moves across the region.

Here's the forecast:

Tuesday Afternoon: Showers and thunderstorms likely after 4pm. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. West wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8pm. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds and heavy rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Sunny, with a high near 89. North wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.