first, we want to talk about the holiday forecast with meteorologist kim martucci. >> the windows in the newsroom were rattling a little bit with the thunder out there. >> yeah. and i've already had facebook messages telling me their dogs are pacing and hiding under the recliner. i'm happy to say none of the storms are severe. they're just producing heavy rain and occasional lightning and thunder. live digital doppler has you covered. i-95 from baltimore to d.c. and alexandria. this is not a severe thunderstorm but a nice soaking rain. if you live in burke, chantilly, the clearing line coming up pretty soon. 72 degrees. humidity, 90% up. just ticked down to 71. winds southwest at 10. here's the first batch of rain that is coming through right now. we're going to get a lull in the action mid to late morning, and another round of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. we've been telling you this is the stormiest day of the holiday weekend. i'm staying with that forecast. we will get close to 90 today. good news is fourth of july is looking good. so i will straighten out those detail

. >>> and kim martucci will give us the fireworks forecast, what's the word? >> can't ban the rain showers but i think you'll be okay for the holiday. the holida[ man ] i got this new citi thankyou card and started earning loads of points. you got a weather balloon with points? yes i did. [ man ] points i could use for just about anything. ♪ ♪ there it is. [ man ] so i used mine to get a whole new perspective. ♪ [ male announcer ] the new citi thankyou premier card gives you more ways to earn points. what's your story? citi can help you write it. gdenny's new tourys of america menu. 50 star cuisine. the new tour of america menu. starting at $4.99. only at denny's. america's diner is always open. >>> dangerous rip tides have left three swimmers dead this weekend along a stretch of the outer banks. officials say three people have drowned since thursday near atlantic beach. the authorities are asking people to stay in shallow water where they can stand for the remainder of the holiday weekend. >>> fighter jets scramble today to intercept a plane that entered rest

new this year, kim martucci, just for you, competitions for men and women. >> mm-hmm. >> for the men, 27-year-old joey chestnut, the guy to beat, holds the world record. 68 hot dogs. that's how many he ate in ten minutes back in 2009. women eating hot dogs as fast as they can. >> the black widow, remember her? >> oh, that's right. >> like this big around. >> that's right. >> yeah. >> what's the word on monday? >> i have to make the call? >> yeah. >> i'm going dry. >> oh, good. >> you want me to make the call? >> yes. >> i'm making the call. >> i love it. put yourself out there. >> i'm doing it. look what's going on in laurel today. it was your independence day parade. all of you were outside enjoying it. they're so much fun. remember to wear your spf. tomorrow will be the stormiest day of the holiday weekend. yeah, you want to know, when is rain going to happen? let's talk about it. will it rain this holiday weekend? yes, it is going to. it is likely going to happen tomorrow. that is the best chances for showers and thunderstorms. about a 50% chance. then we'll push that rain threat s

kim martucci is live in the weather center. >> a severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 7:00, that includes washington, d.c. and prince georges county. but the cluster of storms moving towards up is up in the north and west. the warning on those storms includes montgomery and fairfax that goes until 6:15. you folks in howard count vi a tomorrow warning until 6:30. these storms are generally moving to the south and east, anywhere between 20 and 30 miles an hour. the whole area is under a severe thunderstorm watch until midnight. i'm tracking these storms and will have your detailed holiday weekend forecast coming up in just a few minute. craig, back to you. >> thanks, kim, appreciate that. >>> sunday services were not the same today for a small maryland congregation in mt. airy. many awakened to the sounds of strong storm, then word spread lightning had hit their church and it caught fire. members are determined to rebuild. >> the church was built in 1888, and it's all we've had -- a small congregation. >> reporter: mark is a lifelong member of this methodist church. it's hard for h

kim martucci's in the storm center wan update on those. hey, kim. >> good evening. that severe thunderstorm watch now has been expired for most of the viewing area. the one place it's still in effect is over the chesapeake open waters from drum point, maryland to smith point, virginia. here's a look at the storms right now, the stragglers, if you will, down across the northern neck of virginia and extreme southern maryland for solomon, southgate, and st. mary city. up to the north we have one little thundershower south of harrisburg. it looks like it is raining itself out. so we'll keep an isolated shower chance during the overnight hours. but by and large the severe weather threat is over for the rest of the night. i'll be talking about what happens tomorrow for the july fourth holiday weather forecast when i see you in just a little while. >> all right, kim, thanks. >>> tens of thousands are stilt without power right now. at last check more than 19,000 dominion power customers in northern virginia were in the dark. pepco is reporting more than 10,000 outages, whil

. >> kim martucci is in for chuck bell with some good news for today at least. >> and the holiday weekendy and large a plus instead of a minus. you will enjoy your time outside. it's a comfortable start to our day. we've had low humidity. but by this afternoon, that will start to change. clear sky, 74 degreeses and our humidity is 64%. winds not pushing around too much and i expect they will stay on the light side of south this afternoon. the time is 8:27. let's taking a look at some other numbers coming in. it's 68 in winchester. low 70s from culpepper to fredericksburg. and 75 at annapolis. we'll be up away 87 by noon and 91 at 3:00. a few more clouds this afternoon but we'll hold off on showers up sunday. in a bit we'll take look at how the beach weather is shaping up. >> so pleasant right now, but pretty sticky this afternoon. >> yes, the 91 will feel like it today. >>> well, it is that time of year again when washington, d.c. gets put under the spotlight. hundreds of those of people traveling here to the nation's capital for independence day. and the national mall is at the heart of

. >> let's check in with kim martucci with a look at our forecast. >>> good morning, yes, it looks like the holiday weekend for the most part is looking good, but there is one day when we expect showers and thunderstorms. right now i have digital doppler up. today is not that day. we have clear skies out there. and the weather will be pretty decent. we are in the 60s in town, but lots of 50s in our suburbs. for july, this is so comfortable this weather. perhaps you've noticed the lower humidity. today a lot like yesterday, but the humidity will be up just a little bit more so that high of 91 is going to feel a little more like 91. we will keep it mostly sunny for you. i have to talk about those thunderstorms coming our way on sunday and of course the fire work forecast and i'll throw in that beach forecast when i see you in just a little bit. >> we'll see you soon. >>> well, there wouldn't be traditional oohs and aahs in many areas. several cities in the southeast and in the west have actually canceled fireworks because of the risk of wildfires. that goes for public displays and persona