Severe Thunderstorm Watch Until 9 PM

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for most of central and eastern Virginia and is in effect until 9 PM. The strongest storms will be capable of damaging winds and very large hail. Although the threat is low, a brief weak tornado could also form.

Sunday's Severe Potential

A cool front will move into the area early this afternoon and ignite a few thunderstorms between 1 to 3 PM.


(Surface dew points and winds)

There is plenty of energy in the atmosphere to fuel these storms, so they could rapidly become severe.


(Surface-based CAPE)

The strongest storms will be capable of damaging winds and hail as large as quarters. More than likely these storms will gel into a squall line and race into the Atlantic later tonight. We will be tracking this through the day and will have more updates in the afternoon.

Summer Pattern Developing

It's been a relatively mild Summer thus far, with below normal temperatures and humidity levels.  It looks like that is about to change.  A Bermuda High will develop over the next several days, which will bring a steady flow of moisture into central Virginia.  The result will be dew points increasing from the low 60s to the low 70s over the next few days, which will have a considerable effect on the comfort factor of our weather.  Expect lows at night to stay in the low 70s and highs to top out near 90.  Occasional disturbances embedded within a persistent southwest flow regime will trigger showers and thunderstorms each afternoon and evening.  We will be in somewhat of a weather "rut" over the next week or so.