Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds Could Disrupt Early Holiday Travel In NoVA

A cross-country storm system is expected to bring heavy rain, gusty winds and possible thunderstorms to Northern Virginia and D.C. later this week, which could snarl early holiday travel plans, according to the latest forecasts.

The storm will track from the Mississippi Valley toward the Atlantic Seaboard between Wednesday and Thursday, AccuWeather forecasters wrote on Wednesday. Ahead of the storm, warmer conditions will return to Northern Virginia with highs in the 40s and 50s through the end of the week.

Sadly, the warmer temperatures won't last long as the new storm system is expected to move into the Commonwealth late Thursday afternoon ahead of an incoming cold front.

According to The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang, showers will start around 4 or 5 p.m. on Thursday.

In its latest forecast, the National Weather Service said rain is likely to continue through Thursday evening and into the overnight hours, and could become heavy by early Friday morning. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible on Friday, forecasters said.

Virginians should also expect strong winds Thursday night into Friday, with gusts reaching more than 30 mph.

Ahead of the storm, the National Weather Service issued a broad gale warning for Atlantic waters off the Virginia coast. By Thursday night, winds off the coast could reach 30 to 40 knots, or 35 to 46 mph, with swells peaking at 16 feet by Friday morning.

The storm system is expected to exit the state to the east on Friday morning.

"Skies become partly to mostly sunny and winds turn gusty from the west with colder temperatures in the 40s," the Capital Weather Gang wrote. "A lingering breeze Friday evening should calm overnight. Lows dip into the colder 20s under mostly clear skies."

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

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Southwest wind 8 to 10 mph becoming west.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable.

Thursday: A chance of rain after 1pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 49. East wind 5 to 11 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night: Rain. Low around 45. South wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday: A chance of rain before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 22 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 46.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.