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Severe thunderstorm watch: Friday evening storms could spawn strong winds, then temperatures tumble
Capital Weather • • nation
Key Points:
- A powerful cold front will bring a line of gusty showers and thunderstorms Friday evening between 5 and 9 p.m., with a severe thunderstorm watch in effect for the DC region until 8 p.m.
- The main threat from the storms is damaging wind gusts of 50 to 65 mph, capable of downing trees and causing scattered power outages, with storms expected to be more intense farther north.
- Temperatures will drop sharply after the front passes, falling from near 80°F Friday afternoon to around 50°F by dawn Saturday, a roughly 30-degree decrease within 12 hours.
- Strong winds of 20 to 30 mph will continue through Saturday, keeping daytime highs in the mid-50s, about 25 degrees cooler than Friday's highs.
- Saturday night will bring clear skies and calm winds, leading to the coldest temperatures of the season with lows in the mid- to upper 30s and a risk of patchy frost in colder, low-lying areas west of Interstate 95.
