A cold front moving in from the west could kick off a few strong to severe storms across the Washington area late Thursday, with damaging wind gusts and hail the main threats. A severe thunderstorm watch remained in effect from the D.C. metro to areas along the Pennsylvania state line until 7 p.m. as forecasters said the best chance for severe weather was along and north of I-66.
The risk for damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph and hail had increased, and the main window to watch was late afternoon through the evening. Locally heavy rainfall and lightning were also expected, making the commute and the hours before sunset the period most likely to turn disruptive.
Highs were expected to reach the middle 90s before showers and storms arrived, but the heat would not last long. Temperatures were forecast to tumble more than 25 degrees by the end of the week, a plunge that would flip the region from late-spring heat to a stretch of cool, unsettled weather just as Memorial Day weekend begins.
That shift is what makes this stretch stand out. The severe thunderstorm watch was issued as the cold front pushed into the DMV, and the hot start to the day set up the atmosphere for storms to strengthen before the evening. The same system is then expected to drag in much cooler air, with some communities potentially staying in the 50s Friday and Saturday before a gradual warmup later.
Friday is expected to open Memorial Day weekend with steady rain showers and cool air. Saturday should bring clouds, occasional showers and areas of drizzle for much of the day, with temperatures struggling through the 60s. Sunday is expected to stay unsettled with scattered showers, while highs hold in the upper 60s and low to mid 70s.
Memorial Day is trending toward gradual improvement, with a lingering chance for a shower, especially during the first half of the day. Cloudy conditions, some afternoon sun and temperatures in the low to mid 70s would make it the mildest day of the long weekend, but the bigger story is the dramatic swing that starts with Thursday’s storms and ends with a chilly, wet holiday pattern.
For anyone watching weather dc tonight, the answer is straightforward: the severe risk is real through early evening, and the weekend turns sharply colder immediately after. The hottest part of the day gives way first to storms, then to a run of rain-cooled days that will keep outdoor plans on a short leash until Memorial Day itself.
