they’re calling for thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon

Some good tips in this thread

There are many options for you via the side paths and residential areas where you can wait out a thunderstorm under a front porch. There are a number of businesses in Falls Church where you can wait out a storm. Just before you reach Gallows Road there are side streets to take you to single family homes or if you head up the hill at Gallows there is an old elementary school less than 500 yards from the W&OD or a church within several hundred feet of the intersection. There is the Vienna Community Center right on the trail. There are several covered rest stops along the way also. You have a good commute for options in case of bad weather.

The thing about rain in warm weather, it’s a nuisance. But the trails will be quiet. And you have options. Remember your lights.

There’s a slight risk of severe today in the mid-atlantic. The biggest threats will likely be from heavy, heavy rain, and damaging straight line winds. Possibly even a few microbursts. Unfortunately you can’t really predict cloud-ground lightning, but there likely be a lot of that. Just keep an eye on the radar and if timing becomes an issue, hopefully you can be a little flexible about when you head out. http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=lwx&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=no

@Maverick – from my prior experience commuting, sometimes racing a thunderstorm home can make for one of your fastest commutes ever. The addition of adrenaline is like a nitrous oxide systen in a car engine. Just make sure you keep following the rules of the road/trail.

From the SPC:

…MID ATLANTIC/NORTHEAST…
A BREAK FROM THE RECENT HEAT IN THE EAST WILL EVENTUALLY COME IN THE
FORM OF A WEAK COLD FRONT THAT WILL CROSS THE APPALACHIANS TODAY AND
MOVE OFF THE MID ATLANTIC SEABOARD BY EARLY SATURDAY. A VERY MOIST
AND INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL PRECEDE THE FRONT THIS
AFTERNOON WITH SBCAPE LIKELY TO EXCEED 2000 J/KG FROM NC TO NYC.
TSTMS SHOULD BECOME MORE COMMON AS CONVECTIVE TEMPERATURES ARE
BREACHED EARLY AND LIFT WITH THE FRONT AND UPPER TROUGH SPREADS EAST
ACROSS THE SPINE OF THE APPALACHIANS.

EFFECTIVE SHEAR MAGNITUDES COINCIDENT WITH THE DEVELOPING CONVECTION
ARE FORECAST TO REMAIN GENERALLY UNDER 30KT. THUS…EXPECT
MULTICELLULAR STORMS WITH UPDRAFTS OCCASIONALLY BECOMING BETTER
ORGANIZED OR PERSISTING IN THE PRESENCE OF POCKETS OF STRONGER
INSTABILITY AND/OR POSITIVE STORM/BOUNDARY INTERACTIONS. BRIEF
EXTREME RAINFALL AND WET MICROBURSTS WITH SCATTERED DAMAGING WINDS
SHOULD BE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS FROM THIS ACTIVITY…MOST OF WHICH
SHOULD SUBSIDE CONSIDERABLY WITHIN A FEW HOURS AFTER SUNSET AND/OR
FRONTAL PASSAGE.

@KelOnWheels 23171 wrote:

I think that was me on the way to work this morning. :p

Definitely hot and humid out there this morning!

@maverick 23120 wrote:

am i being a wimp?

Nope! If thunderstorms are possible I will shorten my commute (I drove in halfway today), and keep my eye on the radar to time when I leave the office. And I rode my heavier, wider-tired bike and left the road bike at home.

@ShawnoftheDread 23174 wrote:

Do you wear a purple helmet and ride a silver MTB?

No, but I wish I did! Especially if it was sparkly purple.

(I have a beige-ish helmet with spots, much like a mushroom, and a black MTB.)

@vvill 23173 wrote:

And I rode my heavier, wider-tired bike and left the road bike at home.

Really good idea. I was amazed how much the wind coming off the river can push me around on my heavy bike!