3:10 p.m. — Widespread thunderstorms west and southwest of the District — observed arriving in the Beltway between 4 and 5 p.m. Heavy rain and lightning storms are not far from the metro area – stretching from Ashburn to Warrenton to Culpeper in Virginia. This activity is heading east and northeast and should reach the Beltway between 4 and 5 p.m. There are no warnings for this activity, but the National Weather Service issued a special bulletin warning that rainfall rates could reach 2 inches per hour in any storms, triggering flash flooding. We will update as storms approach or any warnings are issued. 2:56 p.m. — The tornado warning for Culpeper and Fauquier counties was discontinued as the rotation weakened. 2:45 p.m. — Tornado Warning for eastern Culpeper and southwestern Fauquier County until 3 p.m. East of Culpeper, radar showed rotation in a storm heading east along or just south of the 15 to 15 mph track, toward Remington in Fauquier County. The National Weather Service had a tornado warning in effect for that zone until 3 p.m. Seek shelter in an interior room of the lowest level of a strong building if you are in the path of one. Original article from 2:30 p.m Poor conditions have given us the chance for a few heavy showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. A persistent storm or two could lead to some localized flooding given rainfall rates of up to 1 to 3 inches per hour. There is also a bit of a severe storm risk, with a chance for some damaging wind gusts or even a fast tornado, especially south. Once we get over this mess, plan to increase the weather bliss. Until tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms are a risk through the evening. While many spots won’t see much, some could see several inches of rain in a short period of time, perhaps leading to minor flooding. Remember to “turn around, don’t drown” if you encounter flooded roads. Thunderstorms should tend to taper off within a few hours after sunset, with a few more showers possible overnight. Temperatures hover in the 60s as cooler, drier air slowly begins to filter through. Watch this current weather in the Washington Post. Tomorrow (Tuesday): Better weather is starting to move into town. You will notice a significant drop in humidity by morning. The sunshine can prove somewhat self-destructive, with plenty of cold air aloft leading to further cloud development. However, we should see at least some sunshine. High near 80. West winds around 5 to 10 mph. Check out Jason Samenow’s weekend forecast. And if you haven’t already, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For related release news, check out Gridlock. Pollen Update: The last 24-hour pollen count was washed out by rain on Sunday. Want our 5am forecast delivered to your inbox? Register here.
