A cold front will cross the area from west to east during the late morning through early afternoon. With and behind that front, winds will increase significantly and temperatures will drop. Isolated showers are expected along the front with brief rain, graupel and damaging wind gusts all possible. Behind the front, for the rest of the day and evening, winds will gust up to 55 mph and temperatures will drop into the 30s and low 40s. The Blue Ridge will see gusts up to 65 mph with scattered wind damage.

* WHAT...West winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected. * WHERE...DC, and portions of central, north-central, northeast, and northern Maryland, and central, northern, northwest, and western Virginia. * WHEN...From noon today to 10 PM EST this evening. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

* WHAT...West winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected. * WHERE...Washington DC, and portions of central and northern Maryland, central, northern, and western Virginia, and eastern West Virginia. * WHEN...From noon today to 10 PM EST this evening. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...While a line of showers may bring gusty winds early in the morning, the more persistent strong winds will arrive in the afternoon. Strong winds are expected to linger into the evening, especially on hilltops and ridges.