Tornadoes Possible, Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued For NoVA, DC

Updated at 3:35 p.m.

VIRGINIA — The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch on Wednesday for most of the Baltimore-Washington area, which could provide a break from the unrelenting heat. The watch will remain in effect until 10 p.m.

Severe thunderstorms are expected on Wednesday afternoon, with a high temperature of 93 degrees, according to the NWS. Severe thunderstorms and then isolated showers will move into the area in the evening.

Damaging wind gusts are the primary threat expected, with a couple tornadoes possible, the agency said.

Cities and counties in the watch include Fredericksburg, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William and Stafford.

The greater Washington, D.C., region has sweated through several days of heat advisories and high temperatures, making it feel like it was over 100 degrees, and Wednesday will be a repeat of that.

Rainfall expected Thursday from the remnants of what was Hurricane Beryl may help break the cycle of oppressive heat that's hung over the area for nearly a week.

But before the relief arrives, the region will endure another day of dangerously hot conditions on Wednesday, with heat index values of up to 110 degrees expected for central and southern Maryland, DC and Northern Virginia, according to the National Weather Service.

An excessive heat warning was issued for noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesday across the DC metropolitan area, according to the NWS.

The thermometer is expected to reach a peak of 98 degrees at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, with showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before midnight. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall.

Northern West Virginia, central Maryland and Northern Virginia will see the heaviest rain on Thursday, with 2 inches of rainfall possible south of the Baltimore-Washington region, according to the NWS forecast.

"The high humidity values will result in heat index values over 100F for many of these areas. This will also promote many record high minimum temperatures that only dip into the mid/upper 70s at night (and near 80 in some urban centers such as Baltimore and Washington, D.C.)," according to NWS' forecast. "Heat advisories are in effect for much of the I-95 corridor between the Appalachians and the coast."

Here is a breakdown of the climbing temperatures forecast through noon on Friday, and when the heatwave will break:

• Noon Wednesday: 92 degrees (feels like 105)
• 1 p.m. Wednesday: 94 degrees (feels like 108)
• 4 p.m. Wednesday: 96 degrees (feels like 110)
• 7 p.m. Wednesday: 92 degrees (feels like 104)
• 9 p.m. Wednesday: 87 degrees (feels like 98)
• 12 a.m. Thursday: 81 degrees (feels like 87)
• 3 a.m. Thursday: 78 degrees (feels like 78)
• 6 a.m. Thursday: 76 degrees (feels like 76)
• 9 a.m. Thursday: 78 degrees (feels like 78)
• 12 p.m. Thursday: 84 degrees (feels like 85)
• 3 p.m. Thursday: 89 degrees (feels like 90)
• 6 p.m. Thursday 89 degrees (feels like 90)
• 9 p.m. Thursday 87 degrees (feels like 91)
• 12 a.m. Friday 81 degrees (feels like 84)
• 3 a.m. Friday 78 degrees (feels like 78)
• 6 a.m. Friday 75 degrees (feels like 75)
• 9 a.m. Friday 76 degrees (feels like 75)
• 12 p.m. Friday 81 degrees (feels like 85)

Friday will be mostly cloudy, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m., and a high of 87, according to NWS. But the thermometer will begin to climb again on Sunday and Monday, with temperatures expected to be in the upper 90s on both days.

The following is the National Weather Service's seven-day forecast for the Washington, D.C., area:

Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before midnight. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 6 to 13 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 92. West wind 6 to 8 mph.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. North wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Light and variable wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73.

Monday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 99.