Arlington, Virginia 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

649
FXUS61 KLWX 280758
AFDLWX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
358 AM EDT Sun Jun 28 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No major changes were made to the forecast overnight. We
continue to monitor showers moving into the forecast area from
the west.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
- (1) A weak frontal boundary will linger across the region
  through Sunday delivering waves of showers and thunderstorms.

- (2) Significant heat risk next week heading into the
  Independence Day holiday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...A weak frontal boundary will linger across the
region through Sunday delivering waves of showers and thunderstorms.

Showers are focused along and just north of a weak frontal
boundary that bisects the area early this morning. This front is
situated roughly from Petersburg, WV eastward to just south of
DC and Annapolis. Further to the west, a weak convectively
generated disturbance (MCV) is present across northern
KY, southern OH, and western WV, as evidenced by the large
scale swirl in the shower activity there. This disturbance will
continue to progress eastward early this morning, and may
potentially interact with the weak frontal boundary that`s in
place. As lift associated ahead of the approaching MCV starts to
interact with the frontal boundary, some recent runs of the
HRRR attempt to develop heavier showers or thunderstorms this
morning in the DC Metro. The background environment will be very
supportive of heavy rainfall production, with PWATs near or
slightly in excess of 2 inches, deep warm cloud layers
approaching 15k ft, and at least limited instability. If
solutions like the recent HRRR runs were to verify, there could
be localized issues with flash flooding this morning in the DC
Metro. However, confidence in this occurring is too low to issue
a Flood Watch at the moment. We`ll continue to monitor short
term trends over the coming hours, and a short-fused Flood Watch
for the DC Metro may be considered if confidence increases.

The aforementioned MCV will track over the center of the
forecast area from west to east late this morning through the
mid afternoon hours. Behind this disturbance the dense overcast
will start to clear out from west to east. Far western and
southwestern portions of the forecast area will start to see
breaks of sun by around noon, and additional showers and storms
will form shortly thereafter in response to daytime heating. As
a result, the main focus for a second round of showers and
storms this afternoon is expected to be across western and
southwestern portions of the forecast area (Alleghenies, Potomac
Highlands, Central Shenandoah Valley, and Central Virginia).
The background environment will again be very supportive of
producing very heavy rain in those areas this afternoon
(slightly lower PWATs, but higher CAPE than areas further east
this morning). An isolated instance or two of flooding can`t be
completely ruled out, but the ongoing drought conditions in
those locations should help to limit the threat. Any showers and
thunderstorms should wind down with loss of daytime heating
this evening. Patchy fog may be possible overnight, especially
in locations that receive rain during the day today.

Upper ridging will start to build in from the west on Monday and
Tuesday. Largely dry conditions are expected both days, but a
stray afternoon shower or thunderstorm could potentially pop up
over the higher terrain to the west of the Blue Ridge.
Temperatures will gradually start to warm, with highs in the mid
to upper 80s on Tuesday, and then lower 90s on Tuesday.


KEY MESSAGE 2...Significant heat risk next week heading into the
Independence Day holiday.

Increased confidence for a prolonged period of extreme heat and
humidity through the Independence Day July 4th holiday weekend.
Synoptically, subtropical high pressure and a building upper-level
ridge will allow temperatures and humidity values to climb toward
record levels over a multi-day period mid to late next week.
Temperatures Wednesday through Sunday will be the peak of the
dangerous heat with highs for most in the upper 90s and lower 100s.
Heat indices each afternoon will run between 102-108 degrees with a
few readings around 110 along the immediate I-95 metro corridor,
western shore of the bay/southern MD, and down across the VA
Piedmont region. Minimal relief is expected across the mountains
with highs in the mid 80s and low 90s and heat indices in the mid to
upper 90s as the heat peaks mid to late week. No relief at night
either with widespread lows in the upper 60s to mid 70s (upper
70s-80 urban areas) Wednesday through Saturday. With that said,
looking at major to extreme heat risk across the region during
this period. Heat headlines will likely be needed and evaluated
as the event gets closer. More at weather.gov/lwx/heat.

Model guidance has come into better alignment in regards to
temperatures next week with only a few degrees of spread. On the
other side of the spectrum, some uncertainty remains in regards to
storm chances given the placement of boundaries and any waves of low
pressure that may clear away the heat. The ridge looks to shunt
eastward late week into the weekend. This would keep storm
chances suppressed across most of the region outside of the
mountains through Thursday given the lack of any real forcing
mechanisms outside the terrain or perhaps bay/river breezes. This
changes Thursday through the weekend where storm chances may be
amplified given a few pieces of energy pivoting over the top of the
upper-level ridge in west to northwest flow.

With excessive heat and humidity there will be plenty of instability
to work with. You combine this with any potential ripples of low
pressure moving around the ridge or a bay/river breeze to get
convective development. This is illustrated by CSU/CIPS/NSSL
(15-40 percent probabilities) outlooks along with Google WxNext
AI model which suggest the risk for severe weather during the
Thursday July 2nd to Saturday July 4th timeframe. Something
we`ll continue to monitor in subsequent forecast shifts given
all the ongoing outdoor activities across the region.

Historically, near record summer heat often ends with
widespread strong thunderstorm activity, and latest guidance starts
to break down the heat next weekend (July 4) into early next
week.

&&

.AVIATION /07Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Ceilings continue to lower early this morning, and are expected
to eventually reach IFR at most terminals prior to daybreak.
Showers are also moving in from the west. Recent HRRR runs
suggest that these showers could potentially strengthen into
thunderstorms in the vicinity of IAD and DCA this morning, so
we`ll need to continue to monitor that potential. Didn`t have
high enough confidence to put that into the TAFs yet. The signal
for thunderstorms this afternoon seems to be strongest across
southern and western portions of the forecast area, with MRB and
CHO standing the greatest chance for an afternoon storm. PROB30s
for this afternoon were pulled out of the MTN and BWI TAFs, and
consideration was given to pulling it out at DCA and IAD. We`ll
continue to monitor trends over the next few hours. Otherwise,
gradual improvement to MVFR and then eventually VFR is expected
by this evening. MVFR ceilings and patchy fog appear possible
again tonight. Improvement back to VFR is expected on Monday,
with prevailing VFR conditions thereafter through Tuesday. Winds
will be light out of the northeast today, light out of the east
tomorrow, and then turn out of the south on Tuesday.

VFR conditions mainly expected Wednesday through Thursday
night. Any heavy showers or a thunderstorm could briefly reduce
conditions to MVFR at the DCA, BWI and MTN terminals. Winds
south 5 to 10 knots each day.

&&

.MARINE...
Light and variable winds are expected over the waters today.
SMWs could potentially be needed as showers or storms approach
the waters later this afternoon. Winds turn light out of the
east to northeast tonight into tomorrow, before becoming
southerly on Tuesday. Winds may potentially approach low-end SCA
levels in channeled southerly flow Tuesday afternoon.

No marine hazards expected Wednesday through Thursday night.
Winds south 5 to 10 knots both days.

&&

.CLIMATE...
There is a significant heat risk next week. The numbers below
aren`t a forecast, but rather a reference for historical context
for comparison. Latest forecast: weather.gov/lwx.

==================================================================
                    *** ALL-TIME RECORD HIGHS ***
==================================================================
Baltimore                 107 (set on Jul 10, 1936)
Washington                106 (set on Jul 20, 1930 + Aug 06, 1918)
Sterling-Dulles Airport   105 (set on Jul 22, 2011)
Baltimore Downtown        108 (set on Jul 07, 2012 + Jul 22, 2011)
Annapolis                 106 (set on Aug 06, 1918)
Hagerstown                105 (set on Jul 14, 1954)
Martinsburg               112 (set on Jul 11, 1936)
Charlottesville           107 (set on Sep 07, 1954 + 3 other times)

==================================================================
                  *** ALL-TIME RECORD WARM LOWS ***
==================================================================
Baltimore                  83 (set on Aug 05, 1930 + 2 other times)
Washington                 84 (set on Jul 24, 2011 + 2 other times)
Sterling-Dulles Airport    79 (set on Aug 08, 2007)
Baltimore Downtown         88 (set on Jul 02, 2011 and Jul 10, 1993)
Annapolis                  92 (set on Jul 07, 1994)
Hagerstown                 86 (set on Jun 15, 1899)
Martinsburg                86 (set on Jul 21, 1930)
Charlottesville            85 (set on Aug 07, 1918)

==================================================================
                  *** JULY MONTHLY RECORD HIGHS ***
==================================================================
Baltimore                 107 (set on Jul 10, 1936)
Washington                106 (set on Jul 20, 1930)
Sterling-Dulles Airport   105 (set on Jul 22, 2011)
Baltimore Downtown        108 (set on Jul 07, 2012 + Jul 22, 2011)
Annapolis                 105 (set on Jul 21, 1930 + Jul 02, 1901)
Hagerstown                105 (set on Jul 14, 1954)
Martinsburg               112 (set on Jul 11, 1936)
Charlottesville           107 (set on Jul 10, 1936 + Jul 20, 1930)

==================================================================
                 *** JULY MONTHLY RECORD WARM LOWS ***
==================================================================
Baltimore                  83 (set on Jul 21, 1930)
Washington                 84 (set on Jul 24, 2011 + 2 other times)
Sterling-Dulles Airport    78 (set on Jul 24, 2010 + Jul 08, 2010)
Baltimore Downtown         88 (set on Jul 22, 2011 + Jul 10, 1993)
Annapolis                  92 (set on Jul 07, 1994)
Hagerstown                 83 (set on Jul 24, 2010)
Martinsburg                86 (set on Jul 21, 1930)
Charlottesville            84 (set on Jul 22, 1930)

==================================================================
               *** DAILY RECORD HIGHS | WARM LOWS ***
                          VALID: Jul 01
==================================================================
Baltimore                103 (1901)        |   80 (1933 + 1901)
Washington               102 (1901)        |   79 (1977)
Sterling-Dulles Airport   96 (2012)        |   72 (2017 + 3)
Baltimore Downtown       101 (2012)        |   82 (2012)
Annapolis                103 (1901)        |   79 (1945 + 1901)
Hagerstown               100 (1901)        |   74 (2017 + 1977)
Martinsburg              102 (1933)        |   74 (1933)
Charlottesville          101 (2012 + 1945) |   78 (1901)

==================================================================
               *** DAILY RECORD HIGHS | WARM LOWS ***
                          VALID: Jul 02
==================================================================
Baltimore                103 (1901)        |   80 (1901)
Washington               101 (1898)        |   79 (2012 + 1872)
Sterling-Dulles Airport   98 (1966)        |   75 (2022)
Baltimore Downtown       102 (1966)        |   84 (2002)
Annapolis                105 (1901)        |   80 (1901)
Hagerstown               100 (1966)        |   74 (2018 + 1901)
Martinsburg              102 (1933 + 1931) |   75 (1933 + 1901)
Charlottesville          100 (1954)        |   76 (1910)

==================================================================
               *** DAILY RECORD HIGHS | WARM LOWS ***
                          VALID: Jul 03
==================================================================
Baltimore                104 (1898)        |   80 (1898)
Washington               101 (1966 + 2)    |   80 (2018)
Sterling-Dulles Airport  103 (1966)        |   73 (2018 + 2)
Baltimore Downtown       102 (1997)        |   82 (2018 + 1983)
Annapolis                100 (1901)        |   84 (1896)
Hagerstown               102 (1966)        |   76 (2002)
Martinsburg              102 (1941 + 1911) |   74 (1980)
Charlottesville          100 (1966 + 1954) |   79 (1911)

     Period of Record (POR) context...
Area (obs site)              Records since
------------------------------------------------------------------
Baltimore (BWI)                     Jan 1872
Washington (DCA)                    Jul 1872
Sterling-Dulles Airport (IAD)       Jan 1960
Baltimore Downtown (DMH)            Jul 1950
Annapolis (NAK)                     Jan 1894
Hagerstown (HGR)                    Jan 1899
Martinsburg (MRB)                   Jan 1891
Charlottesville (CHO)               Jan 1893

&&

.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...None.
MD...None.
VA...None.
WV...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...KJP/EST/KLW
AVIATION...KJP/EST/KLW
MARINE...KJP/EST/KLW