D.C. Area Faces Uncommonly Severe Thunderstorm Threat
The D.C. area is bracing for an uncommonly severe thunderstorm threat on Monday, with the potential for damaging winds, tornadoes, hail, torrential rain, and frequent lightning. The National Weather Service has issued a Level 4 out of 5 risk for severe storms, marking the first time in about a decade that the area has faced such a high level of risk. A tornado watch is in effect until 9 p.m., and residents are being urged to stay alert.
The storm threat has prompted the closure of federal offices at 3 p.m. The Office of Personnel Management announced that employees should depart two hours earlier than their normal departure time and may request unscheduled leave to depart prior to their staggered departure time.
The National Weather Service is urging residents to prepare for the storms, comparing the potential impact to that of a derecho. Chris Strong, the warning coordination meteorologist at the Washington office of the National Weather Service, stressed the unusual and dangerous nature of the severe weather setup. He advised residents to “prepare like a derecho is coming for your house.”
The main threats from the storm include damaging to destructive gusts, brief tornadoes, hail, torrential rain, frequent lightning, and power outages. The storm hazard of greatest concern is damaging or even destructive winds, with a 45 to 59 percent chance of winds of at least 58 mph within 25 miles of any location in the region. There is also a 10 to 14 percent chance of tornadoes within 25 miles of any location, higher than usual for the area.
Residents are advised to charge devices and secure or bring inside loose outdoor items ahead of the storms, avoid travel during the storms, and shelter in an interior room away from windows if a tornado warning or warning for destructive winds is issued for their location.
The storm threat, which is affecting more than 50 million people across the eastern U.S., is expected to occur between 4 and 8 p.m. in the D.C. area, with the Beltway area at the highest risk between 5 and 7:30 p.m. However, the timing could shift by an hour or so.
It is important for residents to stay aware of the evolving situation and be prepared for the possibility of severe weather. The storms are expected to pass quickly, lasting no more than 45 minutes in any one location.