Alexandria, Fairfax Under Tornado Watch Thursday Afternoon, Evening

A tornado watch is in effect for Alexandria, Fairfax County and much of Northern Virginia until 10 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Showers and thunderstorms are likely Thursday afternoon and Thursday night, the National Weather Service predicts. Rain has already started falling in much of the Alexandria and DC metro area.

Thursday’s high temperature reached the low 80s with humidity above 70 percent. The rain will help drop temperatures in the low 70s Thursday night.

Skies will start clearing in the pre-dawn hours Friday. Expect sunny skies Friday for much of the day, until a chance of thunderstorms starts mid-afternoon.

Saturday and Sunday will be much like Friday—temperatures in the 80s with partly sunny skies and a chance of isolated or scattered thunderstorms.

Fourth of July Forecast

Though the Fourth of July is still a ways off, forecasters say to expect partly sunny skies much of the day with a high temperature of 84. There could be some scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Fourth of July night may see some clearing with temperatures dropping back into the 70s.

Lightning Safety Week

This week is also Lightning Safety Week, the National Weather Service has announced. Nationwide, seven people have died from lightning strikes in 2013—none in Virginia. Learn more at www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov.