Weather in DC Today: Severe Thunderstorms Incoming — Hour-by-Hour Forecast & Safety Tips

A humid surge of Atlantic moisture is converging on Washington, D.C. this Saturday, priming the region for repeated waves of showers and scattered thunderstorms that could soak the city from late morning through tonight. The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts daytime highs near 84 °F (29 °C) under mostly cloudy skies, with rain chances ramping up from 30 % around noon to 60 – 80 % by late afternoon, then lingering overnight as the temperature slips to the mid-60s. FLOOD WATCH AND TIMING • Noon–2 p.m.: Spotty showers develop while humidity spikes; heat index values may briefly touch the upper 80s. • 2 p.m.–8 p.m.: The most active window. Daytime heating teams with a stalled frontal boundary to trigger slow-moving thunderstorms capable of 1–2 inches of rain in under an hour. The Capital Weather Gang notes that a flood watch is in effect for the District and close-in suburbs as downpours could overwhelm urban drainage and low-lying roadways. • After 8 p.m.: Showers taper to drizzle, but isolated rumbles may persist until shortly after midnight. Patchy fog is possible by daybreak Sunday. IMPACTS ON EVENTS AND TRAVEL • Juneteenth parades, neighborhood block parties, outdoor restaurant patios and the ongoing Smithsonian Folklife Festival should prepare for sudden lightning, slick pavement and brief gusts to 25 mph. • Metro riders should monitor for reduced speeds on above-ground lines; drivers may face ponding on the George Washington Parkway and Constitution Avenue. • Reagan National arrivals could see 15- to 30-minute delays during storm bursts as air-traffic controllers space flights for safety. AIR QUALITY AND ALLERGIES Rainy intervals will scour smog and pollen, briefly dropping ozone levels and providing relief for allergy sufferers. However, mold counts will spike behind the storms, so those sensitive should keep medications handy. LOOKING AHEAD: 7-DAY DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FORECAST Sunday: Cloudy, cooler, 70 °F/64 °F, lingering light rain early. Monday: Mostly cloudy, 70 °F/65 °F, spot showers in the afternoon. Tuesday: Partly sunny, warmer, 78 °F/71 °F, stray evening storm. Wednesday: Turning hot and humid, 86 °F/75 °F, isolated thunder after dark. Thursday: Steamy, 88 °F/71 °F, strong afternoon storms and possible small hail. Friday: Drier air arrives, sunny, 84 °F/68 °F, pleasant breeze. Saturday (week ahead): Partly cloudy, 86 °F/71 °F, low rain odds. SAFETY AND COMMUTER TIPS • Keep a fully charged phone for weather alerts and Metro updates. • Never drive through water that covers your hubcaps—just 6 inches can stall a car and 12 inches can float it. • If lightning is heard or seen, move indoors; storms could produce frequent cloud-to-ground strikes. • Secure patio furniture before gust fronts arrive. BOTTOM LINE Today’s DC weather story is all about timing: mid-afternoon storms pose the highest flood and lightning risk, yet breaks in the rain will appear. Plan errands early, have rain gear ready, and monitor real-time radar. Once this soggy Saturday passes, a gradual warming trend will usher in true summer heat by mid-week—setting the stage for another round of storms later in the workweek.