Exit CindyBy the time many of you are reading this, the rains from Cindy will be diminishing or will have ended. Cindy's rain should taper off from southwest to northeast between 6 and 9am.
By the afternoon, a few peeks of sun will likely emerge as dryer air streams in with highs in the low 80s.
We'll post rainfall totals and recap Cindy's impact on the area later today or tomorrow.
Pictured: Cindy brought heavy rains to the area last night. Radar image, from 12:48am, courtesy WUSA 9 NewsWeekend WeatherThe weekend is shaping up pretty nicely. Saturday looks to be partly to mostly cloudy and warm, with highs in the mid 80s. Fine conditions for the
USA and Washington Birthday Celebration in Alexandria.
On Sunday, you'll notice a slight increase in the amount of sunshine as well as in the temperature and the humidity. Expect highs near 90.
Both days look good for the
Reston Festival.
Dangerous DennisAs of press time, Hurricane Dennis had strengthened to a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds near 135 mph. Dennis will pass over Cuba today before emerging in the Gulf of Mexico. It's likely Dennis will weaken a bit as he crosses over land, but may restrengthen in the Gulf.
Based on
current track guidance, it is a virtual certainty that Dennis will make landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast -- most likely between the Florida panhandle and the Louisiana delta. If Dennis hits land as a Category 3 or higher storm, it will be the first time in more than 70 years that a major hurricane (defined as Cat 3 or higher) hit the U.S. mainland during July. If I had to bet on the point of landfall, I would say around Mobile, Alabama (just a bit west of the National Hurricane Center forecast) -- but the verdict is still out. The timing of the landfall should be sometime Sunday afternoon -- although Key West could experience hurricane conditions from this storm late Friday.
The remnants of Dennis are unlikely to pass directly over us although some of its tropical moisture could increase humidity and storm chances here by Tuesday or Wednesday.
Hurricane Dennis resources: