Severe Storm Threat In VA: Hail, Damaging Winds Possible

VIRGINIA — Severe weather is possible across northern Virginia in the coming days and could deliver strong storms, hail and damaging winds to parts of the state.

A hazardous weather outlook is in effect for most of the state including the Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and the District of Columbia, according to the National Weather Service.

The latest forecast from the NWS predicts the affected area could see isolated showers and a possible thunderstorm Wednesday with a greater chance for severe weather on Thursday.

On Wednesday, storms could be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and large hail during the afternoon and evening hours, especially along and south of Interstate 66 and U.S. Highway 50.

Severe weather will likely continue into Thursday, according to the NWS. Scattered thunderstorms are forecast during the afternoon hours and could produce large hail and wind gusts as strong as 70 mph.

Heavy rainfall on Thursday could also result in some isolated flooding, forecasters said.

According to the latest Capital Weather Gang forecast, severe weather will be more likely Thursday.

"(Wednesday) afternoon should bring somewhat lower humidity as breezes pick up from the west and highs reach the upper 80s to near 90 under partly sunny skies, still with the chance of an isolated shower or storm," the Capital Weather Gang said in its forecast. "Rain chances ramp higher again (Thursday) with a couple of rounds of showers and thunderstorms possible."

Here's a look at the detailed forecast for northern Virginia over the next three days:

Wednesday: Isolated showers before 11 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. West wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. West wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Southwest wind 5 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Friday: A chance of showers after 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. Northwest wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.