Washington, D.C., is waking up under mostly cloudy skies this morning, with the official observation near 66°F and sticky air clinging to low-lying neighborhoods. It will not stay mild for long: a strengthening southerly flow is set to push afternoon temperatures into the mid-to-upper 80s, giving the city an early taste of summer.
Sun breaks this afternoon should nudge readings toward a high near 87°F at lower elevations, with just a slight chance of a brief shower after about 4 p.m. Southerly winds around 3 to 12 mph, with gusts up to roughly 18 mph, will add to the warm feel, according to the National Weather Service.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
Southerly winds are expected to strengthen through the afternoon and into the evening, with the strongest gusts funneling across bridges and along the Potomac. On the water, forecasters expect small craft conditions from late this afternoon through Sunday morning, so inexperienced boaters are urged to stay off open water and secure loose gear. Gusts tonight into Sunday morning could reach the mid-20s mph in more exposed locations.
Rain Sunday Then A Sharp Cooldown
A strong cold front is forecast to sweep through Sunday morning, bringing a period of steady rain after about 7 a.m. Many spots could pick up around one-half inch of rain, with some neighborhoods nearing three-quarters of an inch and a few storms possible along the front. Behind the front, skies clear and temperatures tumble, with highs Monday turning notably cooler, mostly in the 50s to low 60s, and overnight lows dipping into the 30s, the National Weather Service says.
We wrote about the warm-up and gusty winds in our earlier heat spike setup; for now, plan outdoor activities around today’s dry, hot afternoon and keep the rain gear handy for Sunday morning.
