7:00 AM | ***Back-to-back soaking rain events from today into early Monday...winds will become a noticeable factor during both systems...watch for coastal flooding Chesapeake Bay/Delmarva***

6-Day forecast for the Washington, D.C. metro region

Today

Mainly cloudy, cool, becoming windy, periods of rain, maybe a thunderstorm, some of the rain will be heavy at times, watch for localized flooding, highs near 60 degrees (normal high now at DCA is 72 degrees); E-SE winds increasing to around 15-25 mph; late day gusts possible to 35 mph

Tonight

Mainly cloudy, windy, chilly, periods of rain, maybe a thunderstorm, some of the rain can be heavy at times, watch for localized flooding, lows near 55 degrees

Saturday

Mainly cloudy, milder, breezy, occasional rain or drizzle, upper 60’s for afternoon highs

Saturday Night             

Mainly cloudy, chilly, breezy, occasional showers or drizzle, maybe a thunderstorm, low-to-mid 50’s for late night lows

Sunday

Mainly cloudy, breezy, mild, periods of rain that will continue on Sunday night, maybe a thunderstorm, some of the rain can be heavy at times, near 70 degrees

Monday

Mainly cloudy early then becoming mainly sunny, breezy, cool, lower 60’s

Tuesday

Partly sunny, breezy, cool for early part of May, chance of showers, near 60 degrees

Wednesday

Partly sunny, cool, breezy, lower 60’s

Discussion              

Rain associated with a northeastward moving storm system has spread into the DC metro region and it’ll continue into the day on Saturday.  Some of the rain will be heavy at times, watch out for localized flooding, and winds will increase in strength from an east-to-southeast direction. In fact, at the height of the storm, flooding may become an issue along coastal sections of the Chesapeake Bay and Delmarva Peninsula given the fact that a stiff E-SE flow will continue for a several hour period.  

By the time we get to the second half of the weekend, a multitude of upper-level lows will begin to consolidate into one as the northernmost system will become the dominant player and acts to “absorb” the other lows. The end result will be one deep upper-level low by the early part of next week centered over the eastern Great Lakes. At the surface (and very similar to the first system on Friday and Saturday), an initial (primary) low will push towards the Great Lakes and a secondary storm will form near the Mid-Atlantic coastline by late Sunday night/early Monday.  As with the first event, this second one will result in soaking rains for the DC metro region and winds will become quite a noticeable factor as well. An unusually chilly air mass for early May will follow the second storm for the first half of next week and instability showers may take place from time-to-time.

Meteorologist Paul Dorian
Arcfield Weather