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Lightning strikes Capitol, Washington Monument during severe storms that prompted tornado warning

Read more: Whipping winds welcome 2025 in DC area

2024 did not go out with a whimper, as storms moved into the region on New Year’s Eve, producing heavy rain, wind gusts and prompting a tornado warning and lightning strikes at two iconic D.C. structures. Lightning struck the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol Tuesday night as the storms rolled through the District. Safety advocate and former reporter Dave Statter captured the lighting strike. See the one at the U.S. Capitol below:

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Watch lighting strike the Washington Monument.

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The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for eastern D.C. and parts of Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland on Tuesday evening. At 6 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Bladensburg to 7 miles southwest of Dunkirk to near Wicomico River, moving northeast at 50 mph, according to the weather service. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter size hail were forecast with the storm system, the weather service said. During Tuesday’s storms, a tornado warning was also issued for parts of Prince George’s County, Maryland. At 5:50 p.m. on Tuesday, the weather service said a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Oxon Hill, or over National Harbor, moving northeast at 40 mph. The storm was in the area of Camp Springs, Oxon Hill and Temple Hills, according to the NWS. The severe weather rolled into the D.C. area just before 6 p.m. and was out of the region by 8 p.m. Post-stormy weather, the forecast is dry and blustery for New Year’s Day in the D.C. area. WTOP’s Luke Lukert contributed to this report.

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Hot, humid week ahead for DC area with severe storm risk

A dangerous heat wave will grip the D.C. area through Thursday, with highs in the mid to upper 90s and heat index values between 100 and 105. Hot and humid conditions are expected through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service, which said to expect daily thunderstorm chances and a risk of severe thunderstorms. 7News Meteorologist Eileen Whelan told WTOP that most of Tuesday will stay dry, but a few late-day thunderstorms are possible, especially north and east of D.C. as storms drift south from Pennsylvania. Any storm could produce damaging wind gusts and hail, but Whelan reiterated "storm chances are low" on Tuesday. Due to a lack of air conditioning, Parkdale High School in Riverdale, Maryland, closed early at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Prince George's County Public Schools said in a social media post.
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