Hail, Tornadoes, Heavy Wind Possible With Severe VA Storm System

VIRGINIA — A slow storm system capable of producing tornadoes and hail is targeting the East Coast, including Virginia, AccuWeather forecasters say.

After storms leave Texas and Louisiana Wednesday, downpours are expected to start ahead of a cold front along the East Coast on Thursday, according to AccuWeather.

However, the National Weather Service said showers were expected Tuesday night in Northern Virginia.

"The severe weather risk will continue to shift eastward along the southern Atlantic Seaboard. Storms may exit quickly Thursday morning in northeastern Florida, Georgia and much of the Carolinas. However, the threat may ramp up again due to the warmth of the afternoon from northeastern North Carolina to the mid-Atlantic," AccuWeather reported.

Heavy wind, hail, flash flooding and tornadoes are possible hazards with the severe weather that could touch parts of the DC region.

The National Weather Service forecasts the showers to continue in Northern Virginia through early Friday before a mostly dry weekend.

Rain chances are 70 percent by Tuesday night, Thursday has a 90 percent chance for rain in Northern Virginia and 100 percent that night, the NWS said.

A coastal flood advisory is in effect until 2 a.m. Wednesday for Arlington, the District of Columbia and Alexandria.

"Shoreline inundation is expected along portions of the seawall adjacent to Ohio Drive and the Hains Point Loop Road, and near the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial. Water is expected to approach the curb near the intersection of King Street and Strand Street in Alexandria," the weather service said in the advisory.

"Tides one and a half to two feet above normal. The next high tide at Alexandria is at 9:56 p.m. (Tuesday) evening. The next high tide at Washington Channel is at 9:38 p.m. (Tuesday) evening."

Along the East Coast, severe weather could also target Maryland, the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida.

"We believe there will be double-digit tornadoes produced by the severe weather outbreak, and multiple tornadoes could be on the ground at the same time on Wednesday despite less-than-perfect atmospheric conditions," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said in a report.

Here is the latest the National Weather Service forecast for Northern Virginia:

Tuesday: Cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 58. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday: Showers likely, mainly before 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday: Showers, mainly after 2pm. High near 72. South wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 56. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Friday: Showers likely, mainly before 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 65. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Breezy.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Breezy.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.