Storms To Target VA Before 'Heat Dome' Arrives: See Latest Forecast

Another round of thunderstorms will target Northern Virginia this weekend before a heat dome settles over the region, bringing extreme temperatures and humidity to the state heading into the Fourth of July holiday.

By Friday, an incoming cold front will expand the chances of severe weather to most of the state, according to the National Weather Service.

Timing for potential storms will likely be after 5 p.m. Friday. Chances linger into the overnight hours. Showers will continue Saturday, with thunderstorms possible after 11 a.m., continuing through the afternoon and evening.

According to forecasters, Friday poses a greater risk of damaging winds due to hot, dry air, while Saturday is more likely to see heavy rainfall.

The biggest weather threat to Virginians next week will be heat and humidity. Residents should prepare for temperatures to climb and near the triple digits heading into the July 4 holiday weekend.

According to the latest forecast from AccuWeather, a "heat dome" will set up over the eastern United States ahead of the long weekend. This pattern will bring extreme heat to the central and eastern states, with some possibly seeing temperatures of 100 degrees.

"A heat dome is a sprawling area of high pressure that creates hot and humid conditions for days or weeks at a time,” AccuWeather expert meteorologist Dan Pydynowski explained. “Heat domes can prevent clouds from forming, resulting in abundant sunshine that boosts temperatures, potentially toward record levels.”

By Tuesday next week, temperatures in Northern Virginia will push into the mid-90s and continue to climb as the week progresses. Starting Wednesday through the weekend, Marylanders should expect sweltering humidity and highs in the upper 90s.

While nothing is certain yet, storm clusters will likely form on the heat dome's edge, AccuWeather forecasters said, and conditions could spawn derechos, or long lines of thunderstorms with damaging winds that can stretch for hundreds of miles.

"With heat and humidity nearby, any clusters of thunderstorms that develop can produce damaging winds, resulting in downed trees, power outages, and other damage," said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter. "The risk of thunderstorm clusters with damaging winds may be highest next Tuesday or Wednesday."

Here is the detailed forecast for Northern Virginia:

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind around 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 8 mph.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 2am, then showers likely after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. High near 83. South wind 5 to 8 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a chance of showers between 11pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: A slight chance of showers between 8am and 2pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95.