The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the D.C. area until 1 a.m. Thursday.
Just before 7 p.m., a line of thunderstorms producing lightning and capable of producing hail and wind in excess of 70 mph extended from 18 miles northwest of Martinsburg to Front Royal to 15 miles west of Sperryville and was moving southeast at about 50 mph. Before 8 p.m. a storm near Thurmont was moving east at 25 mph and a line of storms extending from seven miles west of Dale City to nine miles south of Bealeton to nine miles south of Orange was moving southeast at 50 mph.
Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued throughout Maryland and Virginia.
News4 meteorologist Veronica Johnson predicted the storms would start moving through the D.C. area closer to 9 p.m., with severe weather possible through 10 p.m. and showers remaining through midnight.
But the rain will cool the area down, right? Don't bet on it. A heat advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. Expect highs in the mid-to-upper 90s, and a heat index of 105 degrees is possible.
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