Severe Weather Threat

A significant pattern change will take place today. After last week's (and even today's) very warm temperatures with highs near 90 degrees, temperatures will cool down to the upper 70s for the middle part of the week. The transition to cooler temperatures will occur thanks in part to a cold front. Let's spell it out...

Thunderstorms are already popping up in West Virginia, and northern Kentucky. That activity will become more widespread this afternoon/evening during the heating of the day. The right ingredients seem to be coming together for thunderstorms to develop this afternoon. That's why SPC has placed all of Delmarva in a slight risk (green on picture) for severe storms and the northern part of the peninsula in a moderate risk (red on picture) for storms. Ahead of the front, lots of warm moist air will be pumped in from the south allowing the atmosphere to become unstable. That plus strong winds aloft will favor thunderstorms with possible bowing segments. The main threats for today's storms will be damaging winds, heavy rain, frequent lightning, and hail.

Behind the front, the atmosphere remains unstable as an area of low pressure in the upper levels of the atmosphere sits to our north. In this weather pattern, temperatures will remain cooler, in the upper 70s to low 80s with afternoon cumulus developing and even the slight chance for some light pop up showers.