Friday evening storm updates: Storms push east and south of DC

The situation: Showers and storms, some severe, will push east of DC toward the Chesapeake Bay through around 9 p.m., gradually weakening. One particularly intense cell, producing damaging winds, has swept from near Middleburg, Virginia to Waldorf, Maryland.

8:05 p.m.: The intense thunderstorm which had its origins near Middleburg, Virginia around 6:30 p.m. is now hitting Waldorf. It's not as strong as it was earlier, but could still produce gusts over 50 mph as it heads toward Calvert County.

The storms are producing a rainbow extravaganza in their wake:

7:50 p.m.: Worst of the storm is crossing the Potomac River and will next hit far southern Prince George's County and northern Charles County, where damaging wind gusts are possible.

7:45 p.m.: Reports of some tree damage and and traffic signals out in the city of Alexandria.

7:40 p.m.: The core of the most intense winds is passing through Alexandria, where 60 mph gusts are possible. It's about to cross the Potomac River and will affect portions of southwestern Prince George's County from Oxon Hill to Fort Washington over the next 20 minutes. The worst of the winds should stay south of downtown DC and Nationals Park.

7:32 p.m.: The most intense part of this storm cell is now entering Alexandria, where 60+ mph gusts are possible.

7:28 p.m.: Radar shows particularly strong wind gusts – up to 60 to 70 mph – around Annandale and Falls Church. These winds could next affect Lincolnia and Bailey's Crossroads.

7:25 p.m.: Similar to the storms last night, expect a wall of wind as these storms arrive. It should hit downtown DC and areas around Nationals Park between 7:45 and 8 p.m. Gusts could reach 60+ mph in a few areas, bringing down treees.

7:15 p.m.: The intense storm cell in central Fairfax County will move inside the Beltway over the next 15 minutes and may produce damaging wind gusts. Areas affected may include Falls Church, Springfield and Alexandria.

7 p.m.: The severe storm has entered western Fairfax County between Reston and Centreville. Gusts could reach 60 mph as this heads east toward Vienna and Fairfax.

The southern extent of this storm, which could also produce damaging wind gusts, will pass through Manassas.

6:47 p.m.: The storm cell southeast of Middleburg is quite intense and could produce 70 mph wind gusts near the intersection of Fauquier, Prince William and Loudoun counties. It's headed in the general direction of South Riding over the next 15 minutes.

6:30 p.m.: While most of the storminess has dissipated or moved off within a two county radius of DC, a new intense cell has developed near Middleburg that will sweep east toward Brambleton over the next 30 minutes or so. This storm could produce some damaging wind gusts in addition to heavy rain.

As expected, storms are much more numerous south of Fredericksburg, so keep that in mind if you're headed south along Interstate 95 over the next hour or two.

5:15 p.m.: Earlier severe storms have dissipated, but a few downpours and rumbles remain. A tree was downed near Potomac, Md., and some hail up to 1 inch in diameter fell north of Haymarket, Va.

Additional showers and storms to the west may move in over the next several hours but should still tend to favor the southern half of the area.

4:25 p.m.: Heads up if you're hitting the road for the weekend rush hour. A severe storm is headed for the northwest Beltway. It'll make it to Bethesda by about 4:45 p.m.

3:48 p.m.: The first severe storm warning in our area today covers parts of Loudoun, Fairfax and Prince William counties, to the west of the Beltway and headed toward DC. This area of storms is warned primarily for the potential of 60 mph wind gusts. Other scattered thunderstorms have also developed to the south.