Severe thunderstorms disrupted the getaway plans of hundreds of thousands of travelers struggling through traffic in and around the Washington region late Friday afternoon and evening.
The gusty winds and showers are expected to subside by early this afternoon, said Nikole Listemaa, a senior forecaster with the National Weather Service.
So what about Memorial Day? If it seems like it always rains during the unofficial kickoff of the summer season it is because, well, it does. And if forecasts hold, Monday will be the first Memorial Day in seven years when there has been no precipitation, according to the National Weather Service weather logs.
In the past 10 years, the only perfect Memorial Day weather was on May 31, 1999. It was 91 degrees, sunny and no trace of rain. Every other year, the NWS reported some precipitation “ranging from .01 inches in 2001 and 1.24 inches in 2002.
Listemaa said while the forecasts do look good for Monday, late spring/early summer weather patterns can changerapidly.
“People want to make plans for picnics and other outdoor stuff so of course they want great weather,” Listemaa said. “While the weather is expected to be nice, the winds should last through the weekend.”
Weather experts said waves on the Chesapeake Bay could be as high as five feet and one to two feet on the Potomac. Boaters and kayakers need to take precautions, said Listemaa.
