NoVA, DC Weather: 9 Counties Under Severe Thunderstorm Watch

WASHINGTON, DC — A cold front is bringing storms and strong winds to the Washington, D.C., region Sunday night. The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for much of the Washington, D.C., region.

The watch is in effect until 9 p.m. for the District of Columbia, plus Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fairfax, Fauquier, Prince William, Stafford, Herndon, McLean, Reston, Warrenton, and Woodbridge.

"A strong cold front will pass through the area late this afternoon and early this evening. Severe thunderstorms are possible ahead of the cold front," the weather service said. "High pressure will return Monday before moving offshore Tuesday. Low pressure and its associated cold front will likely impact the area Wednesday before surface high and an upper-level trough build overhead for late in the week."

After Saturday's taste of early-summer warmth, by Thursday daytime high temperatures will sit in the mid-40s and the overnight low will drop into the 20s.

The weather service said the storms also carry the risk of an isolated tornado.

The hazardous weather outlook is for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay and the I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and District of Columbia.

A gale warning is in effect for the waters Sunday and into the night.

The wind advisory is in effect from 8 p.m. Sunday to 4 a.m. Monday with west to northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected.

The advisory covers the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas, as well as north-central and northeastern Maryland and northern Virginia.

Communities in the wind advisory include: Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Loudoun, Dale City, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Montclair, Reston, Herndon, Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, McLean, Franconia, Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Leesburg, Ashburn, and Sterling.

The hazardous weather outlook covers the District of Columbia, Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Stafford, Spotsylvania and King George.

Here are the forecast details for DC and northern Virginia:

Sunday: Scattered showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. High near 75. Breezy, with a southwest wind 17 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm. Low around 40. Breezy, with a west wind 16 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 59. Northwest wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Monday night: Clear, with a low around 39. Light and variable wind.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 68. South wind 5 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Tuesday night: A slight chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday: Showers after 8am. High near 68. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Wednesday night: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47.

Thursday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 48.

Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.