National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Weather in the Central Plains; Fire Concerns in the Southern High Plains and Southwest; Late-Season Mountain Snow

Severe storms, including large hail, wind, and perhaps a couple of tornadoes, are possible in the central Plains. Dry, windy conditions and lightning from dry thunderstorms may produce hazardous fire conditions in the Southwest and southern High Plains. Late-season snow is expected in the Northwest and the Great Basin. Heat is spreading across the eastern U.S.. Read More >

Latest Aviation Discussion:
.AVIATION /13Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... VFR conditions are expected through the weekend into early next week. Expect SKC conditions with a few passing high clouds this morning giving way to increased mid and high level cloud cover later this afternoon and evening as a piece of energy moves through. This piece of energy will touch off a couple of thunderstorms mainly west of KMRB/KHGR/KFDK later this afternoon between 20-23z before weakening further east toward KIAD, KDCA, and KBWI between 00-04z. Did opt for PROB30s at KMRB, KIAD, and KBWI where confidence is slightly higher for precipitation to occur, but may need to be re- evaluated for KDCA pending model trends. Winds will remain light and variable this morning before gusting out of the southwest at 15 to 20 kts this afternoon. Winds decrease tonight into Sunday. Primarily VFR conditions are expected at terminals on Sunday and Monday. An isolated t-storm could affect the northern terminals Sunday (i.e MRB, HGR, FDK, IAD, DCA, BWI) that could cause temporary reduced conditions at terminals. Once again confidence will be low on coverage of t-storms with some focus across the Shenandoah Valley and into southern parts of corridor late Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening. Winds briefly shift westerly Sunday afternoon before shifting south southeast on Monday. Additional t-storm chances are possible Monday and Tuesday mainly at MRB and terminals points west. A strong cold front moving through the region Wednesday and Wednesday night could spawn numerous showers and strong to severe thunderstorms that could quickly reduce ceilings and visibility to MVFR and IFR in multiple periods of times. These conditions should improve later in the week once the front is to our southeast. Winds southwest 5 to 10 knots Tuesday through midday Wednesday, becoming quite gusty within severe thunderstorms, then shifting overall northwest 10 to 15 knots later Wednesday night. AVIATION...KLW/EST Update as of: 939 AM EDT Sat May 16 2026

This discussion and more can be found in the Area Forecast Discussion.

 

Aviation Forecasts

The National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Office (WFO-LWX), in Sterling, VA has responsibility for six Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts or TAFs in Virginia, Maryland and the eastern West Virginia panhandle. Click on each map below to view the latest decoded TAF Note: maps are not for official aviation use. FAA VFR charts are available here.

REAGAN NATIONAL (DCA)

  TERMINAL FORECAST (DCA)

  24 HRS OF OBSERVATIONS

  FAA DETAILS

  TABULAR FORECAST

  DCA TAF BOARDClick for latest Washington Reagan National TAF & Current Observation

 

 

 

 

 


DULLES (IAD)

  TERMINAL FORECAST (IAD)

  24 HRS OF OBSERVATIONS

  FAA DETAILS

  TABULAR FORECAST

  IAD TAF BOARDClick for latest Dulles VA TAF & Observation

 

 

 

 

 

 


BALTIMORE (BWI)

  TERMINAL FORECAST (BWI)

  24 HRS OF OBSERVATIONS

  FAA DETAILS

  TABULAR FORECAST

  BWI TAF BOARDClick for latest Baltimore-BWI TAF & Observation

 

 

 

 

 

 


CHARLOTTESVILLE (CHO)

  TERMINAL FORECAST (CHO)

  24 HRS OF OBSERVATIONS

  FAA DETAILS

  TABULAR FORECAST

  CHO TAF BOARD

Click for latest Charlottesville TAF & Observation

 

 

 

 

 

 


MARTIN STATE (MTN)

  TERMINAL FORECAST (MTN)

  24 HRS OF OBSERVATIONS

  FAA DETAILS

  TABULAR FORECAST

  MTN TAF BOARD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click for latest Martin State TAF & Observation



MARTINSBURG (MRB)

  TERMINAL FORECAST (MRB)

  24 HRS OF OBSERVATIONS

  FAA DETAILS

  TABULAR FORECAST

  MRB TAF BOARD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click for latest Martinsburg TAF & Observation


Click here for the latest decoded METARs at all 6 WFO Sterling TAF sites

 

Center Weather Service Unit Products

 

The Leesburg VA Center Weather Service Unit (CWSU/ZDC) covers the NWS Sterling, VA County Warning Area. Use the buttons on the map or....CLICK HERE to view ZDC's web site.  For complete AVIATION WEATHER CENTER products click here.

Interactive Aviation Map (mouse over & CLICK for Observations)


See Complete MESONET MAP & OBS

Decoded/Raw Text

  • 24 hour decoded observations for Virginia Portion of our CWA...
  • 24 hour decoded observations for Maryland Portion of our CWA...
  • 24 hour decoded observations for West Virginia Portion of our CWA...

Surface Weather Maps

Wind Rose Data

  • Washington Reagan-National (DCA) wind rose data...
  • Dulles International (IAD) wind rose data...
  • Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) wind rose data...

Miscellaneous