Arlington, Virginia 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

432
FXUS61 KLWX 221314
AFDLWX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
914 AM EDT Tue Sep 22 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
A slew of coastal flood headlines have been issued. A relative
lull in the steadier and heavier rain is being observed east of
the Blue Ridge, with additional activity moving in from the
west across the Appalachians to I-81 corridor.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) Cloudy, rainy, and cool conditions continue through
  Wednesday, with a return to drier weather on Thursday.

- 2) Drier conditions and a gradual warming trend can be expected
  through the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Cloudy, rainy, and cool conditions continue
through Wednesday, with a return to drier weather on Thursday.

Shower activity will continue through the day today as large
scale forcing for ascent continues to increase downstream of an
approaching shortwave disturbance/closed low over the Ohio
Valley and within the right entrance region of a developing jet
streak to our north. An already well developed CAD wedge will
continue to be reinforced by the rainfall and northeasterly flow
to the south of an unseasonably strong area of high pressure
centered to our north across southern Quebec.

Cloudy skies, on and off showers, and well below normal
temperatures will continue through the day tomorrow. By the time
all is said and done, most locations should receive around 1-2
inches of rainfall, which should be beneficial in nature given
the ongoing drought conditions. Temperatures will run well below
normal, with highs both today and tomorrow in the upper 50s to
mid 60s. Northeasterly winds gusting to around 15-30 mph will
make it feel even cooler.

Rain should come to an end first tomorrow morning across far
northeast Maryland, with the drier air making slow progress
toward the southwest tomorrow afternoon through tomorrow night.
Drier conditions are expected for all on Thursday beneath mostly
cloudy skies. Temperatures will remain well below normal, with
highs only in the 60s, and winds will stay gusty out of the
northeast as a coastal low starts to deepen offshore.


KEY MESSAGE 2...Drier conditions and a gradual warming trend can be
expected through the weekend.

A Rex block during the second half of the week transitions to
more of an Omega block over the weekend as a trough moving across
the Canadian Rockies results in ridge building across the Great
Lakes. At this time, it appears this subtle shift allows the closed
upper low to drift a bit to the east, somewhere near or just off the
New England or Mid Atlantic coast. This likely keeps any coastal low
threat and rainfall threats off to the northeast from Friday through
the weekend. However, with inherently less predictability with
blocky patterns, the end of the week still bears watching for any
retrogression of the pattern. While some areas could see some sun
Thursday, greater chances for reduced cloud cover arrive areawide on
Friday. Breezy winds will continue through Saturday, if not Sunday,
due to the pressure gradient between the coastal low near New
England and surface high across the Great Lakes. The wind direction
between northeast and northwest will help keep temperatures below
normal into the weekend, though gradually warming. Temperatures will
be closer to normal by Monday, as the low likely starts drifting
away and the ridge builds overhead.

&&

.AVIATION /13Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
IFR ceilings/visbys, showers, and gusty northeasterly winds are
expected at the terminals today. It`s possible that MTN and
possibly BWI could have some brief periods with MVFR. IFR
conditions continue at most terminals through the first half of
tonight, with slow improvement late tonight through the day
Wednesday. Ceilings likely lift to MVFR at most terminals
late tonight, and then VFR by mid-late afternoon on Wednesday.
The lower ceilings should linger a bit longer at CHO. Even with
the improvement in ceilings, and rain showers coming to an end
from northeast to southwest tomorrow afternoon, winds will
remain gusty out of the northeast. VFR conditions and gusty
northeast winds are forecast for Thursday.

VFR conditions are likely Friday and Saturday. However, northerly
winds may gust to around 20 to 25 kt each day.

&&

.MARINE...
Gusty northeasterly winds are expected to persist over the
waters through much of the week with a strong area of high
pressure to our north. Small Craft Advisories are in effect for
all waters today through tonight, with gusts to around 30 knots
possible this afternoon into tonight. Earlier Gale Watches have
been upgraded to Gale Warnings for the waters surrounding
Southern Maryland for Wednesday into Wednesday night. Small
Craft Advisories remain in effect for all other waters Wednesday
through Wednesday night. High-end SCA conditions likely continue
in northeasterly flow on Thursday.

Gusty northerly winds continue on Friday and Saturday between the
coastal low near New England and high pressure over the Great Lakes.
Near-gale conditions may persist into Friday for portions of the
waters. Otherwise Small Craft Advisories are likely through
Saturday. There should be a downward trend in winds over the weekend
as the low pulls away.

&&

.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
A long duration coastal flood event is expected over the next
several days within persistent onshore flow as high pressure
remains centered to our north and a coastal low eventually takes
shape offshore. Anomalies remain on the rise today. Minor
flooding appears likely for multiple high tide cycles along
vulnerable shoreline through at least Thursday, and potentially
even into Friday. With winds out of the northeast, the highest
anomalies will be to the south, so locations like Baltimore,
Havre de Grace, and Chesapeake City likely won`t experience
flooding. A few locations could potentially approach moderate
flood stage later Wednesday into Thursday (Annapolis and
Straits Point being the most likely).

&&

.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...None.
MD...Coastal Flood Advisory until midnight EDT Wednesday night for
     MDZ014.
     Coastal Flood Watch from late Wednesday night through Thursday
     morning for MDZ014.
     Coastal Flood Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 8 PM EDT
     Wednesday for MDZ017.
     Coastal Flood Watch from Wednesday evening through Thursday
     morning for MDZ017.
     Coastal Flood Advisory until 2 PM EDT Thursday for MDZ018.
VA...Coastal Flood Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 8 PM EDT
     Wednesday for VAZ054.
WV...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM EDT Thursday for ANZ530>532-
     535-536-538>540.
     Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM EDT Wednesday for ANZ533-534-
     537-541>543.
     Gale Warning from 6 AM Wednesday to 6 AM EDT Thursday for
     ANZ533-534-537-541>543.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...ADS/DHOF/KJP
AVIATION...ADS/DHOF/KJP
MARINE...ADS/DHOF/KJP
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...LWX