![\"stormy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HDKoA77WsAA5Kqf-1672x1254.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThere’s a possibility of storms popping up in parts of the area Wednesday before temperatures rapidly plummet.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A look at the storm from I-270 N before visibility on the roads quickly dropped for a good 15 minutes.
\n(WTOP\/Mike Murillo) <\/p>\n
\n WTOP\/Mike Murillo <\/p>\n
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\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Photo-Mar-11-2026-8-23-07-PM-1672x1254.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
A downed tree in Mount Airy, Maryland.
\n(WTOP\/Mike Murillo) <\/p>\n
\n WTOP\/Mike Murillo <\/p>\n
![\"<\/p>
\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Photo-Mar-11-2026-7-56-34-PM-1672x1254.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
A fall tree in Gaithersburg, Maryland, after Wednesday evening\u2019s storm.
\n(WTOP\/Mike Murillo) <\/p>\n
\n WTOP\/Mike Murillo <\/p>\n
A tornado watch is in effect for parts of the D.C. region Wednesday evening as potential storms threaten to close out another day of record-breaking warm temperatures.<\/p>\n
The tornado watch includes parts of Montgomery, Howard, Frederick and Carroll counties in Maryland as well as Loudoun County, Virginia. Areas along and west of the Blue Ridge are also under the tornado watch.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamaging winds, large hail and even an isolated tornado, all possible,\u201d WTOP Meteorologist Mike Stinneford said. \u201cWorst of the weather is out of here after sunset.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stinneford reported around 6:45 p.m. that a rotating storm cell was seen over Frederick County and advised residents to take cover as far low or underground as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had temperatures soar into the mid-to-upper 80s this afternoon. \u2026 There\u2019s just a lot of wind energy associated with this front,\u201d Stinneford said. \u201cThis is pretty much what we expected.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that storms could impact most of the D.C. region Wednesday evening, especially along and north of the Route 50\/I-66 corridor, before clearing up at night.<\/p>\n
Stinneford reported around 7:05 p.m. that a \u201creally nasty storm\u201d was moving up to 50 mph east across the region, leaving some wind damage in its path.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo keep in mind that this is a very dangerous situation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Record-high temperatures for early March<\/p>\n
Outside the storm risk, temperatures were above average Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
All three airports in the D.C. area reached the mid-80s, breaking record-high temperatures for the date March 11 set in 2021.<\/p>\n
Stinneford reported Reagan National Airport hit 85, BWI Marshall Airport hit 83 and Dulles International Airport hit 85, as of 4 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe not quite as warm as yesterday, but it\u2019s definitely going to feel summerish before the cold front comes through and cools us back down to reality,\u201d National Weather Service meteorologist Christopher Strong said.<\/p>\n