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DC-area forecast: Showers and storms likely today; some could be strong to severe

Lightning strikes near The Washington Monument.
Lightning near The Washington Monument. (Kevin Ambrose)

Always a human at the helm: Updated around-the-clock by Capital Weather meteorologists.

Happening now: Isolated to scattered showers and a storm possible this morning. Highs head for the 80s with scattered storms likely this afternoon into evening, some possibly severe with damaging winds and hail.

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What’s next? We shift gears to a relatively cooler, less humid, and mostly sunny situation through Friday. Trending a touch warmer and more humid to start August this weekend, but we should thankfully avoid 90s a bit longer.

Today’s daily digit — 4/10: Beneficial rain celebration, but daily digit hesitation, due to severe storm irritation. | 🤚 Your call?
The digit is a somewhat subjective rating of the day’s weather, on a 0-to-10 scale.

Forecast in detail

Today (Tuesday): Mostly cloudy this morning with an initial round of isolated to scattered showers and a storm possible. Skies may turn partly sunny midday with highs in the 80s, moderate to high humidity, and winds from the south gusting 20 to 25 mph. Scattered showers and storms are likely midafternoon into evening. Some of these could be strong to severe with damaging winds, hail, heavy rains, and an isolated tornado. Rain totals could range anywhere from around 0.25" to perhaps 1 to 2 inches in the heaviest spots. Confidence: Medium

Tonight: Scattered evening showers and storms should clear out by around 10 or 11 p.m. Partly cloudy overnight with lows in the mid-60s to near 70. Confidence: Medium-High

Hourly Forecast | Pollen, Air & UV

Tomorrow (Wednesday): Falling humidity is the main headline, as mostly sunny skies help warm highs to the low to mid-80s. A drying breeze from the northwest at 10 to 15 mph, gusting 20 to 30 at times, drops dew points into the low 60s. Just the chance of an isolated afternoon shower. Confidence: Medium-High

Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy as winds calm a bit. Lows settle in the 60s to around 70 with comfortable humidity. Confidence: Medium-High

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A look ahead

Thursday looks like my favorite day of the week, thanks to partly to mostly sunny skies, highs only in the low to mid-80s, and low humidity (is this still July???). There is a slight chance of an afternoon or evening shower or storm, mainly in northern and eastern areas. Partly cloudy Thursday night with lows in the 60s to near 70 and humidity starting to tick back up again slightly. Confidence: Medium-High

Friday is slightly hotter with partly to mostly sunny skies as highs crest mostly in the upper 80s. Humidity is still moderate and tolerable (dew points in the mid-60s). Partly cloudy Friday night with mid-60s to low 70s for lows. Confidence: Medium

The first weekend of August is partly sunny and not too hot, but there is some moderate humidity to go along with highs mostly in the mid-80s to near 90. Maybe a slight chance of a shower or storm Saturday afternoon or night. Could see a better chance of some showers and storms on Sunday depending on how quickly the next system approaches. Saturday night is looking partly cloudy with lows in the upper 60s to low 70s. Confidence: Low-Medium

Next week should start with highs in the 80s Monday and Tuesday, and maybe some more rain chances. More significant heat is lurking for later in the week – roughly between Wednesday and Saturday – with potential for highs well into the 90s, moderate to high humidity, and thunderstorm threats. Like other heat spells this summer, it appears to be relatively short-lived.

On this day

DC weather history for July 28

A rare, nor’easter-like summer storm in 2017 brought record rainfall, flooding, and unusually strong winds for late July.

Sunrise6:06 a.m.Sunset8:24 p.m.
Avg High89°Avg Low72°
Rec High100° 1997Rec Low56° 1920Rec Rain3.31" 2017
Read full July 28 weather history →
Matt Rogers

Matt Rogers

Meteorologist and president and co-founder of the Commodity Weather Group. Specializes in long-range prediction.

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