Blinding rainfall muddles afternoon commute in DC area – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Washington-area drivers faced a difficult afternoon as severe thunderstorms swept across major highways and brought blinding rain to the region. The downpours followed three straight days of extreme heat that pushed temperatures into the mid-90s and broke long-standing records at local airports. Forecasters described the change as a sharp contrast, with cooler air arriving behind the front and more showers expected overnight.
Heavy Rain Slows Major Routes
Multiple crashes occurred along Route 7 near Tysons during the wet and slow rush hour on the Capital Beltway. Storm debris blocked sections of Route 50 in Upperville, Virginia, while Interstate 270 and Interstate 70 from Rockville to Germantown became especially difficult to navigate. A band of intense storms stretched from the Plains area north through Brambleton, Ashburn, and Leesburg, reducing visibility to very low levels. On Interstate 95, heavy rain extended from the Capital Beltway all the way to Baltimore, including Columbia and Ellicott City. Gusty winds accompanied the storms on Interstate 66 toward Front Royal and the Marshall area.
Record Highs Give Way to Sharp Cool-Down
Earlier in the day, Reagan National Airport reached 95 degrees. Dulles International Airport set a new record high of 95, surpassing the previous mark of 93 from 1996. BWI Marshall tied its record of 95, first set in 1962. Those highs stood in stark contrast to the cooler air that followed. Temperatures were expected to drop into the 50s and 60s overnight, a decline of more than 25 degrees after the recent heat wave. The National Weather Service kept a severe thunderstorm watch in effect until 8 p.m. for parts of the District, Maryland, northern Virginia, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Warnings Issued as Storms Move East
The National Weather Service urged residents in areas under active warnings to move indoors. Some storms produced damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, frequent lightning, torrential downpours, and isolated hail up to the size of quarters. Heavy rain led to ponding on roads and slower travel, particularly where storms tracked repeatedly over the same locations. The severe weather arrived during an early-season heat wave that had already placed the region under stress. Scattered thunderstorms continued to move east-northeast through the evening before gradually weakening later in the night.
Weekend Outlook Turns Cooler and Damp
Thursday and Friday were forecast to remain cloudy with scattered showers and highs mainly in the low to mid-60s. Northeast winds added to the cool, damp feel across the area. Saturday was expected to stay mostly cloudy with showers possible, especially in the afternoon and evening, keeping temperatures in the 60s. Memorial Day weekend appeared likely to begin with clouds, occasional showers, and areas of drizzle before any breaks of sun arrived later in the day. Temperatures were projected to recover only into the low to mid-70s with light winds.
Jan loves Wildlife and Animals and is one of the founders of Animals Around The Globe. He holds an MSc in Finance & Economics and is a passionate PADI Open Water Diver. His favorite animals are Mountain Gorillas, Tigers, and Great White Sharks. He lived in South Africa, Germany, the USA, Ireland, Italy, China, and Australia. Before AATG, Jan worked for Google, Axel Springer, BMW and others.
