Capital Weather Gang - DC area weather blog, news - April 20, 2008

Update: Scattered Thunderstorms Possible

[6:25 p.m. -- The northern half of the line of storms that were developing earlier fell apart. The southern part of line slowed down a bit and will drift from Fairfax County into southern PG and Charles Co in the next hour. Scattered showers and storms remain a possibility area-wide...

By Jason Samenow | April 26, 2008; 3:27 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Updates
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Forecast: Summer Warmth and Showers

Over the past couple of days, we've gotten a taste of the kind of weather many of us would like to bottle up and prescribe all summer: tolerably warm afternoons and comfortably mild evenings. Summer warmth will present itself today, but will likely be compromised by late-day showers and...

By Jason Samenow | April 26, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Forecasts
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UnitedCast: Soccer Showers

United vs. Real Salt Lake Crew
Tonight, 7:30 p.m., RFK Stadium

Kickoff	Final Whistle	Weather	Chance of Rain
73F	69F	Showery	65%

Showers and thunderstorms are likely, but there's a small possibility a good portion of the rain will fall before the game and it probably won't rain the whole time. In any event, be prepared with rain gear.

UnitedCast appears on the day of every United home game. Also, see our full forecast through early next week.

By Jason Samenow | April 26, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: UnitedCast
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NatCast: Showers Likely

Nationals vs. Cubs
Tonight, 7:10 p.m., Nationals Park

First Pitch	9th Inning	Weather	Chance of Rain
74F	69F	Showery	65%

A passing cold front means a good chance of showers and thunderstorms. Any rain may take about an hour to pass some time between 4 and 9 p.m. I'm not thinking rain-out, but a delay is certainly possible (about a 50% chance).

NatCast appears on the day of every Nationals home game. Also, see our full forecast through early next week.

By Jason Samenow | April 26, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: NatCast
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CommuteCast: Warm with a Risk of Showers

Warm again Saturday; unsettled late in the day Radar: Latest D.C. area radar loop and light-ning strikes (key) from Weather Underground. Click here to zoom. Refresh page to update. Sun, filtered through high cloudiness, has helped warmed temperatures into the upper 70s to low 80s across the area today, and...

By Ian Livingston | April 25, 2008; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Forecasts
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Photography: D.C. Sunrise & Potomac Moonset

Sunrise with the Reflecting Pool and Washington Monument, 6:34 a.m. Saturday morning. This past Saturday morning, with good sky conditions for viewing and photographing, moonset and sunrise in the D.C. area occurred about an hour apart. I'd like to say that I knew about the timing in advance and planned...

By Kevin Ambrose | April 25, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Photography
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NatCast: Warm, Slight Chance of Storm

Nationals vs. Cubs
Tonight, 7:35 p.m., Nationals Park

First Pitch	9th Inning	Weather	Chance of Rain
74F	69F	Mild	20%

A very mild and a very comfortable evening at Nationals Park. Watch out for a 20% chance of a thundershower, but much more likely it will be rain-free.

NatCast appears on the day of every Nationals home game. Also, see our full forecast through early next week.

By Jason Samenow | April 25, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NatCast
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Forecast: Warm & Stormy, then Cool & Cloudy

Through Saturday, you will experience warm springtime weather: highs at or above 80, but storms threaten late each afternoon as a cold front approaches from the west. A cooling trend starts Sunday -- so enjoy the summer-like warmth the next couple of days, but do so before the late afternoon....

By Camden Walker | April 25, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Forecasts
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CommuteCast: Warm and Pleasant

Another beauty on Friday Current D.C. area temperatures, courtesy Weather Bonk. Map by Google. Refresh page to update. Hover over and click temperatures for more info. Click and hold on map to pan. Mostly sunny skies have allowed temperatures to rise into the upper 70s across the area today. Light...

By Ian Livingston | April 24, 2008; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Forecasts
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Drought is Down, but not Totally Out

Latest drought statistics released 24-hour rainfall totals, in inches, ending 8 a.m. Monday. Courtesy National Weather Service. I am sure many readers remember the headlines of last summer when the word drought was on the menu for the first time in almost a decade. We had just experienced a four-year...

By Matt Ross | April 24, 2008; 11:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Local Climate
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NatCast: Perfectly Pleasant

Nationals vs. Mets
Tonight, 7:10 p.m., Nationals Park

First Pitch	9th Inning	Weather	Chance of Rain
73F	66F	Mild	0%

Perfect spring baseball weather with sunny skies and temperatures in the low to mid 70s at the outset of the game, transitioning to starry skies with temperatures falling into the mid 60s by game's end.

By Josh Larson | April 24, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NatCast
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Forecast: Sunny, Dry Conclusion to Work Week

But clouds, showers may punctuate weekend Delightful conditions will round out your work week, with full sunshine and above-average temperatures in the upper 70s to near 80. Warning: Your urge to leave the office early on Friday may be higher than usual. Unfortunately, as is sometimes the case, more unsettled...

By Josh Larson | April 24, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Forecasts
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CommuteCast: Delightful Conditions Return

Mostly sunny and warmer Thursday Latest view of D.C. looking east from the Netherlands Carillon at Arlington National Cemetery. Courtesy National Park Service. Late April sunshine has gone to work to quickly warm the area into the low and mid 70s, after some morning low cloudiness and fog. Temperatures will...

By Ian Livingston | April 23, 2008; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Forecasts
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Bad Forecast? Blame the Butterflies

Farewell to Lorenz, the man behind the "butterfly effect" By Steve Tracton "Don't blame us. Blame the butterflies" -- maybe that's what meteorologists should say when they miss a forecast. One person who most certainly would have appreciated such an excuse is Ed Lorenz. It was Lorenz who was one...

By Capital Weather Gang | April 23, 2008; 11:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Science, Tracton
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NatCast: Pleasant Weather to Start Homestand

Nationals vs. Mets
Tonight, 7:10 p.m., Nationals Park

First Pitch	9th Inning	Weather	Chance of Rain
71F	66F	A Few Clouds	10%

Pretty nice weather greets the Nats and their fans to begin the homestand. Although the chance is slight, a sprinkle or light shower can't be ruled out as temperatures fall into the upper 60s.

NatCast appears on the day of every Nationals home game. Also, see our full forecast through the weekend and beyond.

By Dan Stillman | April 23, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NatCast
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Forecast: Weather That Makes it Hard to Work

Did your work productivity drop during the sunny and warm middle to end of last week? This week will again finish in fine form. And you may want to take advantage of the nice weather -- maybe a conveniently timed "sick" day? -- before clouds and the chance of showers...

By Dan Stillman | April 23, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Forecasts
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CommuteCast: The Return of Sunshine

The clouds that have covered the sky for the past several days have finally broken up this afternoon. Temperatures have responded to the emerging sunshine, reaching the upper 60s and lower 70s. Expect a mix of clouds and sun this afternoon and evening as the low pressure plaguing the region...

By Ian Livingston | April 22, 2008; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Forecasts
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Freedman: A Harsh Climate for Optimism

While there are many reasons to be enthusiastic about environmental progress on this Earth Day week, it's difficult for people in the climate science community to be in a celebratory mood at the moment. Despite the abundant attention devoted to climate change since the last Earth Day, many climate scientists...

By Andrew Freedman | April 22, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (49)
Categories: Climate Change, Freedman
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Forecast: Rain to End and Splendid Weather Awaits

Our extended rain event will come to an end today and tonight leading to high pressure and drier weather for the remainder of the week. This weekend, however, we will see a cold front approach which may be accompanied by some unsettled weather. Let's hope the impact is minimal....

By Matt Ross | April 22, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Forecasts
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CommuteCast: A Soggy Ride Home

Low pressure loosens grip tonight into Tuesday Latest D.C. area radar loop and recent lightning strikes (key). Courtesy Weather Underground. Click here to zoom. Refresh page to update. Heavy showers and some isolated thunderstorms have continued across most of the area today, if at lesser intensity than yesterday. Two-day rainfall...

By Ian Livingston | April 21, 2008; 3:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Forecasts
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Recap: Yesterday's Stormy Situation

Headlining yesterday's stormy weather were the tornadoes that struck Charles and Prince George's County. The two tornadoes were produced by the same thunderstorm as it moved from south to north during the 2 p.m. hour. The National Weather Service (NWS) provides a detailed account of the tornadoes' evolution, intensity and...

By Jason Samenow | April 21, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Recaps
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Forecast: Showers Stick Around but Settle Down

Downpours, booming thunder, lightning and even a couple isolated tornadoes proved to be a major disruption yesterday. Bouts of wet weather continue today, but shouldn't have yesterday's punch. The volume on the storminess meter drops another notch Tuesday, even as it remains cool and a bit damp. Then the...

By Jason Samenow | April 21, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Forecasts
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Alert: Heavy Rain, Storms Affecting Metro Area

*Flood Watch in effect for entire metro area through late tonight* Severe Weather Tracking StationWarning Text: DC | MD | VARadar: Latest D.C. area radar loop from the National Weather Service. Click here to expand. Refresh page to update. Warnings: Severe warnings from the National Weather Service. Automatically reloads every...

By Jason Samenow | April 20, 2008; 2:23 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (26)
Categories: Alerts
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Forecast: Lots of Rain

*Flood Watch in effect for metro area through late tonight* *Flood Warning in effect for eastern Loudoun until 3:15 p.m.* Hopefully, everybody got their fill of sun yesterday because it's going into hiding for the next 72 hours or so. Clouds and rain arrive in earnest today, with heavy bursts...

By Jason Samenow | April 20, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (27)
Categories: Forecasts
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Capital Weather Gang: April 20, 2008 - April 26, 2008