The National Weather Service in Washington, D.C. has issued a forecast filled with scattered showers and thunderstorms starting today, with a 30% chance of precipitation and highs creeping up to 76°F. The skies promise to clear somewhat as we head into a mostly sunny weekend, despite continued chances of rain and thunderstorms, particularly on Saturday night, where the likelihood jumps to 50%. According to the latest updates posted on the National Weather Service website, the immediate lookout is for dreary skies giving way to intermittent sunshine and possible thunderous interruptions.
Today started with a gloomy overcast and patchy fog. The winds blowing from the east at 6 to 9 mph have us hoping for clearer skies later in the day. The barometer reads 30.18 in (1022.0 mb), with a standing humidity knocking at a high of 87%. Tonight, there's only a slight risk of isolated thunderstorms before 2 am, and then the patchy fog returns after 11 pm.
As we move into the weekend, "A chance of showers and thunderstorms" after 2pm on both Saturday and Sunday, with the potential for scattered storms in the evening, could put a damper on late-day picnics or hikes. The National Weather Service forecast suggests a high of 88°F for both days, and as we push into Labor Day, we start to see some respite with a forecast of mostly sunny skies and a high near 81°F.
For those driving into the weekend, the National Weather Service cautions that patchy dense fog may briefly reduce visibility to one-quarter mile or less. If you're on the roads during these less visible conditions, slow down, use your headlights, and maintain a safe distance from the car ahead of you. By Monday night, clearer skies are expected to prevail, and the lows will cozy down to around 58°F, ushering in a sunny Tuesday with highs edging close to a mild 78°F.
