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Thunderstorms bluster through DC region, bringing risk of damaging winds, hail

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Scattered thunderstorms rolled through the D.C. region Tuesday evening, prompting flash flood warnings and even a tornado warning on the outskirts of the D.C. area.

Several areas south and east of D.C., including parts of Prince George’s, Charles and Anne Arundel counties started seeing strong storms just after 4 p.m. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop Tuesday afternoon at all three major D.C.-area airports.

One radar-confirmed tornado was spotted in the Winchester, Virginia, area.


Active weather alerts:

  • Severe thunderstorm watch for southern Maryland until 12 a.m.

As showers and storms continued late into the evening, “flooding rain will be the main threat,” WTOP meteorologist Mike Stinneford said.

Slow-moving storms could produce between a half inch and 1.5 inches of rain, with isolated higher amounts possible.

After conditions improve overnight, additional showers and thunderstorms are expected Wednesday, mainly east of the Blue Ridge.

Temperatures will be in the lower to middle 80s around the Capital Beltway, with upper 70s and lower 80s farther west. The position of the cold front will determine where thunderstorms redevelop during the afternoon. Severe weather probabilities have increased along the Interstate 95 corridor and any storm that forms could become strong or severe.

Cooler and less humid air will be coming Thursday, setting up more comfortable conditions to end the week.



Full forecast

OVERNIGHT: Scattered showers and storms
Lows: 70-75
Winds: South 10-20 mph

WEDNESDAY: Scattered storms
Highs: 82-87
Winds: Northwest 5-15 mph
Gusts: 25-30 mph

THURSDAY: Mostly sunny
Highs: 78-83
Winds: North 5-10 mph

FRIDAY: Mostly sunny
Highs: 77-82
Winds: Northeast 5 mph

1 tornado confirmed in Anne Arundel County during Tuesday’s storms

At least one tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, during Tuesday's storms in the D.C. region. An EF-1 tornado landed in Lake Shore near Patapsco Road at 6:15 p.m. NWS officials determined that the estimated peak winds of the tornado was 100 mph. The twister was on the ground for two minutes as it was around three-quarters of mile long and 160 yards wide.
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