It's hot and oppressively humid – and this steamy air could fuel big storms late this afternoon and evening.
The most probable window for storms is between 6 and 11 p.m., although an isolated strong cell could pop up during the afternoon. Storms may be hit or miss rather than widespread.
The National Weather Service has placed the area in a Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe storms, with the primary hazard being damaging wind gusts.
The agency says there is a 30 to 44 percent chance of storm gusts reaching at least 58 mph within 25 miles of any location along the Interstate 95 corridor from Fredericksburg through Philadelphia, including DC and Baltimore.
Jeff Halverson, Capital Weather's severe weather expert, says the atmosphere is ripe for storms that could produce microbursts – or intense localized downdrafts that can topple trees, as well as torrential rain and a few instances of small hail. Frequent lightning is another potential hazard.
Strong to severe storms are also a threat on Friday and may be more widespread than today.
