It was a slick afternoon commute for many drivers Tuesday night, as storms rumbled through the D.C. region. Here’s what you need to know.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued along the Interstate 95 corridor in Virginia and in Southern Maryland. Rain pelted the area, slowing down traffic in areas including Prince William, Culpeper, Stafford and Spotsylvania counties in Virginia, and in Southern Maryland counties.
Powerful winds tore through sections of Frederick County, Virginia, just east of Winchester, leaving more than 4,000 Rappahannock Electric Cooperative customers without power.
The brunt of the damage and outages happened just along State Route 657 and adjacent communities, including the area around Greenwood Elementary School, the utility said in a news release.
Crews have reported up to 25 broken poles and an equal number of downed spans of wire. Each broken pole can take several hours to replace and repair, and the outage could last into Wednesday. The electric company said it has put in a call for extra support.
The showers and storms lasted several hours, and the D.C. area is in for some less muggy conditions as a cold front arrives.
However, across the storm-swept areas, power lines and downed trees have been reported in Culpeper and Fairfax counties in Virginia, as well; and in Frederick County, Maryland.
Most of the rain will end by 9 or 10 p.m., Storm Team4 meteorologist Amelia Draper said. Low temperatures will then fall into the 60s.
As the winds shift from the south to the northwest behind the cold front, drier and less humid air will arrive overnight, allowing the sky to gradually clear.
Wednesday is expected to be much less humid, with a northwest breeze in the afternoon.
“Wednesday will be mostly sunny and very warm but with lower humidity and highs in the upper 80s,” Storm Team4 meteorologist Steve Prinzivalli said.
Thursday and Friday will have sunshine and highs in the middle to upper 80s. By the weekend, however, the humidity will return, so it will feel more uncomfortable Saturday with a partly cloudy sky and highs in the upper 80s.
Sunday will be partly sunny, warm and humid, with high in the upper 80s and a risk of a pop-up storm but most of the day is rain-free.
Monday, Labor Day will be partly sunny, warm and humid, with a random late-day thunderstorm with highs again in the upper 80s.
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Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT: Storms ending before midnight. Clearing overnight and turning less humid. Lows in the 60s to around 70.
WEDNESDAY: Sunny, breezy, cooler and less humid. Highs in the mid to upper 80s.
THURSDAY: Partly cloudy with low humidity. Highs in the mid to upper 80s.
FRIDAY: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s.
