Washington, D.C. – Cold air is charging into the region tonight, bringing the threat of severe thunderstorms and damaging winds to the D.C. metro through late Saturday evening.
According to the National Weather Service in Baltimore/Washington, a cold front sweeping across the area will spark widespread showers and thunderstorms, some of which could become severe. The primary threat is damaging straight-line winds, particularly between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday. Affected areas include Washington, D.C., northern Virginia, and much of central Maryland.
Cities such as Alexandria, Gaithersburg, and Baltimore are under a slight risk for severe storms, with potential wind gusts topping 60 mph. Downed trees and scattered power outages are possible, and travel delays may occur along I-95, I-270, and the Beltway.
Residents are urged to secure outdoor items, avoid unnecessary travel during peak storm hours, and charge electronic devices in case of outages. Saturday’s highs will reach the upper 80s before cooling sharply overnight.
Behind the front, cooler temperatures arrive Sunday and Monday, with highs dropping into the 60s and 70s. While the risk of severe storms fades, showers may linger into early next week.
Additional weather advisories may be issued tonight as the front progresses eastward. Stay tuned for updates from NWS Sterling and local emergency agencies.
