If you’re heading to Ocean City or planning to spend time outside this week, keep an eye on the sky. Rounds of thunderstorms are expected to move through the region and Maryland’s coast, with frequent lightning posing the biggest threat through much of the week.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service are predicting showers and thunderstorms to set in Sunday afternoon and continue through the evening. Severe, isolated thunderstorms are likely to keep blanketing the Blue Ridge area on Monday.

Temperatures will be moderate in the 70s and 80s, but a cold front will bring additional storms on Tuesday with more chances of rain possible through the week, according to the service.

“The main threat will be lightning,” said Luis Rosa, a meteorologist with NWS. “Monday and Tuesday also have a chance of severe weather, damaging winds.”

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How is the forecast for Ocean City?

Ocean City forecast

  • 🌤️ Best beach time: Morning.
  • ⛈️ Storm timing: Afternoon into the evening.
  • ⚡ Biggest hazard: Possible damaging wind gusts.
  • 🌊 Surf/rip current risk: Low.
  • 🚗 Travel impacts: Expect heavy rain and poor visibility.

Beach-goers should try and get outside in the mornings as storms roll in during the afternoon. Tuesday will be the worst day to go to the beach as there is potential for storms to have damaging wind gusts and a small chance of hail, said Nancy Moll, a meteorologist for the NWS office in Wakefield, Va.

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July’s weather whiplash

The turn of weather comes as the region has recently experienced frequent thunderstorms and hazardous lightning strikes that were responsible for fires, widespread power outages lasting days and damage to a historic inn that has existed since the 1700s.

Just last week storms caused hundreds of flights at the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Dulles International and Reagan National airports to be canceled and delayed. The weather also led to flooding and loss of power in the region.