NoVA Weekend Weather Forecast: Hazardous Outlook For Storms

WASHINGTON, DC — Any outdoor activities this weekend face the odds of rain and thunderstorms across parts of northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The weather forecast says a slight risk of a tornado is possible, the National Weather Service said Friday. A hazardous weather outlook has been issued for Washington, D.C., and some Virginia suburbs, with an isolated threat for thunderstorms to produce damaging wind gusts Friday evening and localized flooding is possible.

A few thunderstorms may become severe Sunday afternoon and Sunday night with damaging winds a risk. However, a tornado cannot be ruled out, the forecasters said. Some storms may also produce heavy rain that could lead to flooding Sunday night through early Monday.

These parts of Virginia are under the hazardous outlook Friday night: Rockingham,Shenandoah, Frederick, Page, Warren, Clarke, Nelson, Albemarle, Greene, Madison, Rappahannock, Orange, Culpeper, Fauquier, Highland, Loudoun, Blue Ridge, Hampshire, Morgan, Berkeley, Jefferson, Hardy, Grant, Mineral and Pendleton.

The weather service reminds residents about the risk of lightning. "Today's highlight is lightning. When Thunder Roars - Head Indoors. If you hear thunder, you're close enough to be at risk for a lightning strike. Get inside, or inside a vehicle."

Severe thunderstorms are possible from the Gulf Coast into the Ohio valley and parts of the mid-Atlantic states, The Weather Channel says. Severe weather is most likely Sunday from eastern Alabama and Georgia into southern Ohio and eastward in western North Carolina and southwestern Virginia.

Damaging winds are the main severe weather threat, though a few tornadoes are possible in the Southeast, the weather site says. Golfers and fans at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, will be hampered by rains throughout the weekend, forecasters say.

Here's the detailed forecast from the National Weather Service:

Friday Afternoon: Showers likely, mainly after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 72. South wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 61. South wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of showers before 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 9pm. Low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Monday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 9am, then a chance of showers between 9am and 3pm. High near 66. Chance of precipitation is 90%.