A week ago: thunderstorm clouds at sunset

* A break from the heat: Full Forecast | Storm aftermath: Post Local *
* Tomorrow: photos and recap of yesterday's storms *

Cumulus congestus clouds build over Northern Virginia in the wake of a passing thunderstorm on Monday, July 19. These clouds would later develop into cumulonimbus clouds (thunderstorms) as they passed east of Washington, D.C. This photo was taken at 8:22 p.m.

The sky over the Washington area was alive with clouds and color during the evening of Monday, July 19. The setting sun produced shades of yellow and red light which glowed on the clouds above.

The first line of thunderstorms pushed through the Washington area by 7 p.m., but redeveloping storm clouds behind the first set of storms produced an interesting display of colorful cumulus congestus clouds against the backdrop of the anvil top from the first set of thunderstorms.

The second set of thunderstorms fully developed east of Washington and moved toward the Chesapeake Bay between 10 and 11 p.m.

Below is an assortment of photos that show the view of storm clouds from Tysons Corner and Oakton, Va.

The first line of thunderstorms approach Vienna and Tysons Corner at 5:34 PM on Monday. These storms pushed through the Washington area with heavy rain and lightning between 6 and 7 p.m. More thunderstorms would develop behind this first line of storms later in the evening, but would mainly impact areas east of Washington.

Storm clouds begin to redevelop near Washington, D.C. at 8:20 p.m. These clouds would form thunderstorms east of Washington.

The back-sheared anvil top of the first line of thunderstorms extends many miles west from the parent thunderstorms, visible in the sky over Oakton, VA. The setting sun creates a yellow glow on the clouds. These clouds were above the redeveloping cumulus congestus clouds displayed in the first photo of this post. This photo was taken at 8:24 p.m.

A close-up view showing the back side of the thunderstorm's anvil top. This is the same view as the previous photo. This photo was taken at 8:31 p.m.

The back of the anvil top quickly changes color from yellow to red in the light of the setting sun. This is the same view as the previous two photos. This photo was taken at 8:33 p.m.

The moon is visible through the clouds at 8:20 p.m.

A jet approaches Dulles Airport, flying around developing storm clouds that were east of the airport. This photo was taken at 8:34 p.m. These clouds would later form thunderstorms east of Washington, after 9 p.m.. As these storms approached the Chesapeake Bay at 10:15 p.m., flashes of lightning were visible in Oakton, Va. This is often termed "heat lightning" which is really just distant lightning visible in a clear night sky.