WEATHER BLOG: Gray And Humid

Similar to the past several weekends, rain is in the forecast. Outside of some areas of low clouds or fog this morning, the start of the weekend won't be too bad. Some sun will peak out during the day allowing highs to rise back into the 80s. As a warm front approaches the region from the south, a shower or thunderstorm may develop in some spots this afternoon due to a warm, humid air mass in place, with the best chance mainly after 4 p.m. and from the city and points N and W. Periods of rain and perhaps a thunderstorm will continue tonight with the warm front pushing northeastward through the region. Saturday night will be another muggy night.

By Sunday, a strengthening storm approaching the East Coast combined with being in the warm sector could make things dicey, especially during the afternoon. The area should be dry into the early afternoon hours for the atmosphere to strongly destabilize. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to fire from central Pennsylvania to western Virginia during the early afternoon hours and track eastward. The best timing for severe thunderstorms looks to be from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at this time. Heavy downpours and damaging winds are possible across the viewing area, especially in areas that destabilize the most. Forecast models do not support strong updrafts for hail but perhaps enough wind shear for an isolated tornado, mainly across extreme southern Virginia, but we will continue to monitor for the potential.

By Sunday evening, thunderstorms are expected to form into a squall line with damaging winds and heavy rainfall as the main threats. The strongest storms may be east of Baltimore by the evening, impacting the Delmarva Peninsula. As the cold front moves through Sunday night, a drier day and lower humidity will be in store on Monday.