Washington starts Saturday under clear skies and temperatures near 75 degrees, but the calm setup will not last all weekend. Mostly sunny skies should push the District to about 89 degrees this afternoon, while the bigger weather story arrives Sunday with heavy rain, thunderstorms and a risk of severe weather.
Saturday Stays Warm And Mostly Dry
Saturday’s rain chance stays below 10% through the day as east winds run around 6 mph. Clouds gradually increase tonight, with a low near 72 and a 30% chance of showers or thunderstorms late, especially after 2 a.m.
That makes Saturday the better day for outdoor plans, though the air will remain humid and afternoon temperatures will feel more like midsummer than a late-season preview. Any showers overnight should be a sign of the unsettled pattern building into Sunday.
Sunday Brings Heavy Rain And Strong Storms
Showers and thunderstorms are expected Sunday, with a 90% chance of rain and a high near 86 degrees. The National Weather Service says some storms could become severe, produce damaging wind gusts of roughly 50 to 65 mph and bring a few tornadoes.
Repeated thunderstorms could also drop between a half-inch and three-quarters of an inch of rain, with locally heavier amounts possible. Poor-drainage spots and recently soaked areas will be especially vulnerable to flash flooding, so avoid driving through water and move indoors as soon as thunder is heard.
Storms may continue Sunday night, when the rain chance remains around 70%. Outdoor events should have a backup plan, and residents should keep alerts enabled as the timing and intensity of individual storm lines become clearer.
Heat Returns Before Another Storm Chance
Monday starts with a slight chance of showers before turning mostly sunny and reaching about 90 degrees. Tuesday looks sunnier and slightly cooler at 88, followed by another mostly sunny 90-degree day Wednesday.
Another round of showers and thunderstorms could arrive Thursday, when the rain chance reaches about 40%, with a smaller storm chance lingering Friday. For now, the forecast’s main concern is Sunday’s combination of heavy rain, strong winds and repeated thunderstorms.
