Weather Dc: Washington expects 30 mph gusts and evening storms Wednesday
Weather dc turns breezy Wednesday in Washington, D.C., as a cold front approaches from the west. South winds may gust to 30 mph, and the first line of light rain is expected around 3 p.m. A second round of showers and thunderstorms follows Wednesday evening.
Washington Wednesday Forecast
High temperatures should reach the mid-70s, but increasing clouds may keep the city from getting to 80 degrees. The afternoon will carry the strongest wind gusts, with the breeziest conditions expected before the evening commute.
The storm system is expected to build in two stages. The first arrives as broken light rain around 3 p.m., then a stronger band of showers and thunderstorms develops later Wednesday evening. Rain and thunderstorms should taper off by midnight Wednesday.
I-81 and Blue Ridge Risk
The greatest chance for gusty or locally damaging winds sits west of I-81 and near and along the Blue Ridge, where the Storm Prediction Center has a low risk outlook for severe weather. Storms are expected to weaken as they move toward the immediate Washington area during the evening commute.
For readers in the District, the practical window is narrow: a warmer, windy afternoon, then a wetter evening before conditions improve overnight. Patchy fog may develop by early Thursday morning as winds back off.
Thursday Through Memorial Day
Thursday should bring chilly air, cloud cover, and a northwest breeze, with highs only in the lower 60s. Friday looks calmer, with sunshine, low humidity, and temperatures in the lower and middle 70s. Saturday should warm into the lower and middle 80s, and Sunday is expected to reach the mid- to upper-80s around the Capital Beltway, with a stray late-day shower or thunderstorm still possible.
Record heat does not appear likely on Saturday, when the DCA record is 93 and the Dulles record is 90. Early next week, highs in the middle 90s are expected, before cooler, more seasonable air and higher chances for showers and storms return heading into Memorial Day weekend.
