Washington, D.C. is waking up to a soggy start Sunday, with light rain sliding through the city and temperatures hovering near 73°F at Reagan National Airport. The wet morning should give way to a hot, fairly pleasant afternoon with highs in the upper 80s, but the quiet will not last long. Meteorologists say a stronger system is lined up for Monday, June 22, bringing the potential for widespread showers and thunderstorms, some on the stronger side, along with Small Craft Advisories on nearby waters. In other words, it is a good day to keep one eye on the sky and the other on the forecast as you lock in plans for the week.
Today
Isolated showers may linger before about 8 a.m., then skies are expected to turn mostly sunny as the day goes on, with a high near 88°F. Northwest winds should run around 3 to 14 mph, with gusts up to about 18 mph during the afternoon. Compared with what is coming, humidity will be on the lower side, so conditions should feel hot but not especially oppressive across most neighborhoods.
Monday
Monday, June 22 is shaping up to be the real attention-grabber, with forecasters calling for a high near 95°F as a warm front lifts north and a low-pressure system tracks through the Ohio River Valley. Scattered showers are likely early, followed by more widespread showers and thunderstorms from mid-to-late afternoon into the evening. The primary concerns are damaging wind gusts and pockets of locally heavy rainfall, with a few isolated tornadoes possible. The Weather Prediction Center has highlighted parts of the region for a slight risk of excessive rainfall, which means slow-moving storms could trigger localized flooding. On the water, the NWS has posted Small Craft Advisories for portions of the Potomac and Chesapeake from noon to 6 p.m. Monday; boaters are urged to check the latest office forecast at the NWS Baltimore/Washington.
Heat And Safety
With temperatures near 95°F expected Monday, anyone planning to be outside should think about heat stress as much as the thunderstorm threat. The District maintains an interactive map of cooling centers and offers guidance on staying safe during heat alerts, along with information on locations, shelter options and transportation assistance through the city’s heat resources. For details on cooling centers and official heat-safety tips, visit D.C. heat resources.
Plan Ahead
Travelers should build in some extra time for Monday afternoon and evening, when storms could slow commutes and flights. If you have outdoor events on the calendar, it is worth having an indoor backup ready. Keep up with local alerts and the updated NWS forecast through the rest of the weekend so you can pivot quickly if the timing or track of the storms changes.
