Thunderstorms rumble across DC region, bringing damaging winds, heavy rain

Thunderstorms are rushing through the D.C. region, ushering the potential for damaging winds, hail and torrential downpours. Here’s what you need to know.

The storm passed through Southern Maryland by 7:30 p.m. Sunday, with severe thunderstorm warnings being issued as storms made their way. WTOP meteorologist Mike Stinneford said that a storm with wind speeds clocked between 40 mph to 50 mph hovered over Prince William County in Virginia around 8:15 p.m., which just closely bypassed D.C. — where a UFC event is taking place — just before 9 p.m.

The D.C. region is under a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m.

Rain started to arrive around 6 p.m., with the threat expected to run through at least 10 p.m.

“This first band of storms may produce damaging winds, large hail, torrential rain, and isolated tornadoes,” Stinneford said. “We’ll probably see rapid development once storms start to form.”

Heavy rain led to a slowdown on the northern band of the Capital Beltway, all the way toward the Baltimore area, along Interstate 95, the WTOP Traffic Center reported.

Stinneford said the storms will end by midnight; afterward, it will turn cooler and less humid overnight.

Gorgeous weather bursts Monday and Tuesday, Stinneford said, before humidity returns Wednesday, along with the chance of afternoon and evening storms.

Sunshine had dominated most of the Sunday, with temperatures climbing into the lower to mid-90s.

<...