Thunderstorms, Gale Force Winds In NoVA Weather Forecast: Latest Storm Timing

VIRGINIA — Forecasters are calling for rain showers across Northern Virginia early Thursday evening, mostly after the evening commute, followed by heavier downpours the rest of the night, with a few rumbles of thunder mixed in.

The moderate to heavy rainfall in Northern Virginia will likely occur between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Thursday, according to NBC4 meteorologist Chuck Bell.

Temperatures in the region will continue rising as the day progresses, with the high temperature expected around 11 p.m. on Thursday. The precipitation will be all rain, with temperatures forecast to be in the 40s and 50s.

"A few claps of thunder may be heard," WJLA forecasters said. "Beneficial rain totals will be at least one-half inch for most neighborhoods."

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook on Thursday for Northern Virginia and D.C., with gale force winds possible later Thursday evening and into the early overnight hours.

The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang is calling for light showers to start off Thursday evening, with heavier downpours at times the rest of the night. "We can’t even rule out a little thunder," the Capital Weather Gang said.

Winds from the southwest will begin to strengthen, with gusts to 25 to 30 mph, as the night progresses.

"We could see a few isolated thunderstorms in the mix," WUSA9 meteorologist Kaitlyn McGrath said. "So don't be surprised if you hear a rumble of thunder."

On Friday, as temperatures continue to fall, winds could gust as high as 26 mph, according to the NWS. Temperatures are expected to fall to 45 degrees by 5 p.m. on Friday, with temperatures dropping to below freezing overnight.

Gale force gusts remain possible Saturday, a day with chilly and blustery conditions and high temperature of only 40 degrees, according to the NWS.

Bell said the first 11 days of January were the fourth-warmest on record for the D.C. area, with an average temperature of 48.5 degrees.

AccuWeather said its team of long-range forecasters believe it is possible that toward the latter part of January and into early February, as colder air expands with more staying power from Canada into the Eastern states, storms may begin to track in such a way to allow opportunities for accumulating snow in the I-95 corridor of the Northeast and perhaps the interior Southeast.

Here's the NWS forecast for the close-in suburbs of D.C. for the next few days:

Thursday night: Rain. Low around 48. South wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday: A chance of rain before 11 a.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 45 by 5 p.m. Southwest wind 13 to 16 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.

Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. Northwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 45.

Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.

MLK Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.