Sunny skies, sudden storms: Risky rhythm of summer weather in DC area

Lightning rips through a storm sky over D C 's Washington Monument on July WTOP Dave Dildine Lightning rips through a storm sky over D C 's Washington Monument on July WTOP Dave Dildine You wake up to blue skies and sunshine By late afternoon the power is out tree limbs are scattered across the road and crisis sirens wail in the distance Summer weather in the D C area is falling into a familiar pattern that s increasingly dangerous according to Allison Reilly an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Maryland College Park Reilly researches identifying areas of jeopardy and enabling resilient infrastructure specifically in coastal communities vulnerable to sea level rise She noted the shift in storm behavior is especially noticeable in the mid-Atlantic region where heat and humidity build throughout the day creating the perfect conditions for afternoon blowups As things get hotter more moisture is able to be held in the air Reilly announced Because it s been hotter there s more threshold in the air to hold water vapor So we are seeing heavier rainfall Reilly disclosed unpredictable storms can cause localized destruction with little warning We do see over time the intensity of a lot of these conditions driven hazards are getting worse Reilly noted Reilly notified WTOP that recovery is harder than ever Weather stories Overcast and muggy in DC region with a sliver or two of sunlight How to talk to your kids about the deadly Texas flood Montgomery Co says flood sensors cut the number of water rescues precipitously With fewer FEMA staff available to help recover it certainly makes everything look more challenging Reilly announced The takeaway don t let calm skies lull you into a false sense of shield Be prepared for not just the forecast but the worst incident scenario Have your crisis alerts on your phone or have a NOAA radio that tells you what to do Reilly stated Have backup water in your home should you need to shelter in place Don t drive in flooded water Have an crisis plan in action and a plan in place Source