Capital Weather Gang

PM Update: Some storms this evening, much cooler, windy Friday; updates on Moore, Okla.

Jason Samenow — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:30:58 GMT

10:45 p.m. update: A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for much of the immediate metro area through 11:30 p.m. due to the potential for damaging winds of 60+ mph. I’m unconvinced winds will get that high and think the … Continue reading →

It’s unanimous: NOAA calls for very active hurricane season, joining other forecasters

Jason Samenow — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:30:56 GMT

Prior to today’s release of NOAA’s hurricane outlook today, at least 8 independent groups had called for an active to extremely active Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA joined the chorus today, becoming the 9th group to forecast a busy year for … Continue reading →

Capital Weather Gang 2013 summer outlook: Less stifling than last 3 summers

Jason Samenow — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:44:00 GMT

This has been one of the nicest springs I can remember. Lots of crisp, sunny days and beautiful weekends. We will likely finish the March – May period with near normal temperatures, and it turns out normal in spring here … Continue reading →

Weather Service systems crumbling as extreme weather escalates

Jason Samenow — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:14:21 GMT

As painfully obvious from the recent events in Oklahoma, tornado season is in full gear. Meanwhile, hurricane season is a week away. Yet budget woes and multiple system failures at the National Weather Service in the past week, not to … Continue reading →

D.C. area forecast: Muggy with off and on showers today, weekend much cooler

David Streit — Thu, 23 May 2013 09:00:45 GMT

Today’s Daily Digit A somewhat subjective rating of the days weather, on a scale of 1 to 10. 4 Bad enough that we still have the humidity but now we have to dodge showers/thunderstorms to boot. Express Forecast Today: Scattered … Continue reading →

PM Update: Showers/storms likely, especially Thursday; Bob Ryan’s last TV weathercast

Jason Samenow — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:08:46 GMT

Radar & lightning:Latest regional radar shows movement of precipitation and lightning strikes over past two hours. Refresh page to update. Click here or on image to enlarge. Or see radar bigger on our Weather Wall. Isolated thunderstorms have developed this … Continue reading →

Lawmaker rejects Weather Service furlough plan after Moore, Okla. tornado

Jason Samenow — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:41:27 GMT

This spring, Congressman Frank Wolf (R-Va.) had more than once gently suggested the Department of Commerce not furlough National Weather Service forecasters. Commerce went ahead with a furlough plan anyway. In the aftermath of the Moore, Okla. tornado, Wolf is … Continue reading →

Lots of talk, few conclusions on climate change and tornadoes

Jason Samenow — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:46:40 GMT

Following the horrific Moore, Okla. tornado, an abundance of bandwidth has been expended on one particular topic (apologies in advance for expending more): Did climate change make the tornado worse? The bottom line is scientists don’t know. If that answer … Continue reading →

Tornadoes: Forces of nature we can’t stop or contain, can forecasts help us better prepare?

Jason Samenow — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:04:48 GMT

Intelligence can foil a terrorist attack. Policies and technologies can lower the risk of aviation disaster. But man has no power to quell the wrath of a violent twister. You could say the same for hurricanes, but typical lead times … Continue reading →

A deeper look at Washington, D.C.’s tornado history

Kathryn Prociv — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:05:39 GMT

If you’ve been following the 2013 severe weather season, you know it has been quite a roller coaster ride. Before this week, we had been flirting with records for the lowest number of tornadoes (so far this year) and tornado … Continue reading →

D.C. area forecast: Humidity still here through tomorrow, then cool and dry into weekend

Dan Stillman — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:00:37 GMT

Today’s Daily Digit A somewhat subjective rating of the days weather, on a scale of 1 to 10. 6 Humidity hangs tough, as it remains nice and warm for those who like the summery stuff. Express Forecast Today: Partly sunny … Continue reading →

PM Update: More warmth, storm chances inch up Wednesday

Jason Samenow — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:55:44 GMT

Temperature Map Temperatures:Latest D.C. area temperature map. See interactive map on our Weather Wall. Southerly winds ushered in warm, humid air today (dew points in the upper 60s!), with highs in the low-to-mid 80s. Storms avoided us today, and may … Continue reading →

How do you protect kids at school from violent tornadoes?

Jason Samenow — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:28:35 GMT

Numerous children were killed or injured by the tornado that obliterated Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Okla. Details are still emerging about exactly how these casualties occurred, but the tragedy raises questions about what schools should do to protect … Continue reading →

Washington, D.C.’s tornado history

Jason Samenow — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:23:50 GMT

Fortunately, the Washington, D.C. area does not experience tornadoes that are as frequent and intense as the Plains and Southeast. However, weaker tornadoes are not uncommon. Link: The 8 tornadoes recorded in D.C. This map below, created by CWG’s Kathryn … Continue reading →

Moore, Oklahoma tornado updates throughout Tuesday

Jason Samenow — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:30:17 GMT

Clean-up efforts are underway in the wake of deadly, destructive tornado that carved a devastating 20 mile path south of Oklahoma City Monday. The massive storm, up to a mile wide and with estimated winds of at least 200 mph, … Continue reading →

D.C. area forecast: Warm/humid through Thursday with storm risks; much cooler holiday weekend

Matt Rogers — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:00:18 GMT

Today’s Daily Digit A somewhat subjective rating of the days weather, on a scale of 1 to 10. 6 More sun than yesterday and pleasantly warm, but humidity literally sticks around. Express Forecast Today: Partly to mostly sunny. Slight late … Continue reading →

Tornado emergency in Moore, Okla.

Mark Berman — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:42:33 GMT

A large, violent tornado carved a long, destructive path on the south side of Oklahoma City. Doppler radar estimates suggested that twister had the potential to produce wind gusts of 200 mph, the equivalent of an EF-4 on the Enhanced … Continue reading →

PM Update: Continued warm and a bit humid, outside thundershower chance

Jason Samenow — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:32:25 GMT

Radar & lightning:Latest regional radar shows movement of precipitation and lightning strikes over past two hours. Refresh page to update. Click here or on image to enlarge. Or see radar bigger on our Weather Wall. After a drizzly, cool start, … Continue reading →

Severe weather likely today in central U.S. after Sunday’s destructive tornadoes in Oklahoma

Jason Samenow — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:09:54 GMT

One of the quietest starts to the tornado season on record is making up for lost time. After last Wednesday’s deadly tornado outbreak in Texas, the weekend brought back-to-back days with double digit tornado totals. The potential exists for another … Continue reading →

A weekend of storms in Kansas and Oklahoma (PHOTOS)

Ian Livingston — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:36:22 GMT

Ponca City, OK — Last Friday, Mark Ellinwood, James Hyde and I headed west on a marathon overnight trip to the Plains. We had been planning to start our three week chasecation on Saturday, but odds of significant storminess over … Continue reading →

Cicada update: Latest coverage map and a cicada taste test

Kevin Ambrose — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:00:21 GMT

If you have not yet seen cicadas where you live, there is a good chance that Brood II has missed your area. Don’t worry, Brood X will probably get you in 2021. So far, Brood II sightings of the 17-year … Continue reading →

D.C. area forecast: Warm today, toasty mid-week, cooler for Memorial Day weekend

Jason Samenow — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:00:22 GMT

Today’s Daily Digit A somewhat subjective rating of the days weather, on a scale of 1 to 10. 5 Some sun, but a bit humid, with the chance of an annoying shower or storm Express Forecast Today: Variably cloudy, warmer, … Continue reading →

D.C. area forecast: Another cloudy and damp day, then a taste of summer on the way

Brian Jackson — Sun, 19 May 2013 09:00:59 GMT

Today’s Daily Digit A somewhat subjective rating of the days weather, on a scale of 1 to 10. 5 Not terrible, but with the clouds and showers around it’s middle-of-the-road at best. Express Forecast Today: Cloudy. 60% chance of showers. … Continue reading →

United vs. Sporting KC weather forecast: Cloudy with some showers possible

Brian Jackson — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:55:00 GMT

United vs. Sporting KC 5:00 p.m., Sunday, May 19, RFK Stadium Cloudy, showers? FIRST PITCH Near 70 9TH INNING Upper 60s CHANCE OF RAIN 60% Real sports get played in the rain, and that may be the case occasionally for … Continue reading →

D.C. area forecast: A cloudy and cooler weekend with some showers

Dan Stillman — Sat, 18 May 2013 09:00:30 GMT