NoVA Weather: Strong Storms Possible Before Pleasant Weather Returns

VIRGINIA/DC — Showers and thunderstorms, including some that could turn severe, are in the forecast for Virginia and Washington, D.C., on Thursday as a cool front moves through the region, according to weather forecasters.

The past several days have been sunny and dry, after a run of days with steady rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ian. On Thursday, though, homeowners may get a break from watering their lawns or newly planted grass, with rain in the forecast.

The chance of rain in Northern Virginia and D.C. begins Wednesday night. For Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service is calling for a possibility of thunderstorms, with wind gusts as high as 23 mph, for the eastern half of Virginia and the District of Columbia.

"The threat zone includes some of the most populated areas in the eastern U.S. from near Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia and New York City," AccuWeather meteorologists said Wednesday. "While the most common risks from the storms will stem from strong wind gusts that can break tree limbs and trigger sporadic power outages as well as brief torrential downpours that can lead to flash urban flooding, there is the potential for a couple of isolated tornadoes to spin up as well."

The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said scattered showers are likely, and a thunderstorm is possible during the morning into afternoon on Thursday.

"Could see a line of gusty storms come through late afternoon into early evening with a few storms capable of damaging winds," the Capital Weather Gang said about Thursday's forecast. "We’re still on the warm side of the front so highs should reach the upper 60s to low 70s with mostly cloudy skies and a touch of humidity as well."

Meteorologists at WUSA9 issued a Weather Watch Alert for the potential for storms to become strong and severe on Thursday. The day will start with cloudy skies and scattered showers, before rain becomes more widespread in the early afternoon.

"Right now the best bet for storms looks to be between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.," WUSA9 said. "The biggest threat right now would be damaging wind and possibly even isolated tornadoes."

The stormy weather is expected to stick around into Thursday night, with the line of gusty storms eventually moving out of the region. Skies should turn partially clear Thursday night, with low temperatures in the 40s.

On Friday, sunny weather is expected to return, with a high of 66 degrees. The next chance of rain in the D.C. area is Sunday night and Monday.

Here's the NWS forecast for D.C. and the Virginia suburbs for the next few days:

Wednesday night: A chance of showers after 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Thursday: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. High near 70. South wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 9 p.m., then a chance of showers between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. Low around 49. Southwest wind around 7 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 66.

Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 69.

Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.