3:45 p.m. — Strong storms pass through Montgomery County, but not severe
Radar shows storms moving through western Montgomery County, soaking areas cleared by Wednesday’s tornadoes. Although they contain heavy rain and lightning, they are not considered severe as they are not producing damaging winds at this time.
Storms are expected to continue moving east and northeast, passing Rockville, Olney and Columbia in the next hour.
At present, it appears that storms are more random from the district southward, but it is possible that the line of storms to the north extends a little southward.
We will post another update in about an hour or sooner if storms become severe.
2:35 p.m. — Severe thunderstorm watch in effect until 9:00 p.m.
A cold front moving through the region could trigger intense storms in the evening, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m.
“The strongest thunderstorms will be capable of strong to severe gusts (50-65 mph) capable of causing wind damage,” the weather service wrote.
In addition to strong winds, the storms could produce heavy downpours, lightning and possibly hail.
For areas west of Interstate 95, most storms are expected to occur before 6 p.m. East of I-95, they will likely occur between approximately 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.
The surveillance zone includes the area from Virginia Beach to Philadelphia and also includes Richmond and Baltimore.
Storms could become more intense east of I-95.
A severe thunderstorm watch does not guarantee that powerful thunderstorms will occur in your area, it just means that the ingredients are in place for them to form. You must remain vigilant and attentive to the weather. If a violent storm warning is issued, it means a dangerous storm is imminent and you should head inland.
Severe thunderstorms sometimes produce tornadoes, but the ingredients are much less favorable for tornadoes today than yesterday.
We will post another update in about an hour, or sooner if storms threaten.
2 p.m. — Tornado warning issued then canceled
A tornado warning was briefly issued for parts of northern Montgomery and southeast Frederick counties, including Urbana and Damascus. The warning was supposed to last until 2:15 p.m., but was canceled as the storm rotation weakened.
Although a tornado warning has already been issued, a situation like Wednesday’s, with long-lasting storms producing tornadoes, is very unlikely.
After yesterday’s surprisingly powerful tornado outbreak focused on Maryland, we have another afternoon and evening storm risk brewing today. In this case, the most concentrated activity should tend to be south and east toward southern Maryland. But with storms developing locally, we can still take a bit of a beating. The good news is that today’s bad weather is caused by a cold front that will bring much nicer weather through the end of the work week.
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Until tonight : Showers and storms appear locally, with most activity moving southeast of the immediate area around 5 or 6 p.m. An additional shower or storm is possible behind the main lot, until around midnight. The main risk is expected to be damaging wind gusts and possibly hail, primarily near Interstate 95 and to the east, as well as the potential for heavy rain and dangerous lightning. A brief tornado cannot be ruled out.
Lows eventually dip into the mid and upper 60s as humidity decreases toward dawn.
See it current weather at the Washington Post.
Tomorrow (Friday): We will end the work week on a positive note. Clouds are rare and the sun is warm as highs rise to the 80s to mid-80s. Humidity is also dropping, thanks to a somewhat gusty west wind.
See Jason Samenow’s forecast for the weekend. And if you haven’t already, join us on Facebook and follow us on X and Instagram. For traffic information, see Gridlock.
More storms: Any storms that develop this afternoon could quickly become strong thanks to abundant humidity and heat, as well as a cold front moving into the area. Compared to yesterday, wind shear – change and direction with height – is less favorable for tornadoes. The biggest uncertainty is whether the storms will begin in our area, rather than coming from the west.
According to Jeff Halverson, our severe weather expert: “This afternoon’s strong cold front is expected to trigger a series of storms that will sweep across the country beginning mid-afternoon. »
Halverson pointed out that “the models suggest more scattered coverage north of DC, and more of a continuous line DC and south.” The greatest danger lies in localized, straight-line gusts of wind.
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