A large swath of thunderstorms surrounding a massive heat dome could bring a "ring of fire" to the mid-Atlantic region later this week.
A large swath of thunderstorms surrounding a massive heat dome could bring a "ring of fire" to Northern Virginia and the rest of the mid-Atlantic region starting Wednesday evening, breaking up the record-breaking heat that has descended upon the region.
The pattern is referred to in the weather community as a "ring of fire" because thunderstorms form along the edges of the heat dome, AccuWeather explained.
The massive heat dome has engulfed much of the country from Texas to New England. Because the heat dome is warm through most layers of the atmosphere, clouds and storms have difficulty forming.
"However, on the edges of the heat, especially along the northern and western flanks thereof, the air is cooler well above the ground, which makes it easier for clouds to tower and produce thunderstorms," AccuWeather said. "Within this ring, there can be spotty, individual thunderstorms, large clusters of thunderstorms or a solid line of storms that can repeat or meander back and forth as hot and cool air change hands."
In the Northern Virginia region, storms are possible Wednesday night, and chances increase on Thursday and Friday.
An extreme heat warning is in place through Tuesday at 9 p.m, when the high temperature is expected to approach 100 degrees. Wednesday and Thursday night will see a temperature dip to the mid-70s. High temperatures could dip to the mid-80s on Friday before returning to the low 90s again over the weekend.
This week's heat has broken records, according to the National Weather Service's Baltimore-Washington office.
Seven of the agency's eight climate stations tied or broke daily records on Monday, including in Baltimore Inner Harbor, where it reached 104 degrees and dipped to a record high 85. It reached 96 and 98 degrees at Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport, respectively. Several predicted temperatures for Tuesday would break daily records if they hold true.
Here is the National Weather Service forecast for the days ahead:
Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Heat index values as high as 110. At night, mostly clear, with a low around 76.
Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Heat index values as high as 109. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. At night, a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. The chance of precipitation is 40 percent at night.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers before 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., then showers and thunderstorms likely after 5 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. At night, showers and thunderstorms likely before 8 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. At night, a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. At night, a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. At night, showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.