The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Storm Watch for the entire region this afternoon and into this evening as an approaching cold front begins to kick off some thunderstorms. The radar loop above was valid at 3:45 p.m. EDT

Here are the counties covered by the watch. Baltimore City is also included:

ALLEGANY             ANNE ARUNDEL        BALTIMORE
CAROLINE             CARROLL             CECIL
FREDERICK            HARFORD             HOWARD
KENT                 MONTGOMERY          PRINCE GEORGES
QUEEN ANNE`S         TALBOT              WASHINGTON

A Severe Storm Warning was issued at 3:44 p.m. for parts of Washington and Frederick counties. We can expect more as the front moves closer. 

The good news is that the passing front will take the sizzle out of this little heat wave, dropping high temperatures tomorrow back into the mid-80s, near the long-term averages for this time of year. It should also lower the humidity a bit, swinging the winds around from the west (which generally brings high temperatures at this time of year) to the north.

A second cold front due through here on Sunday could generate a few more storms, but by next week we should be enjoying pleasant highs in the mid-80s, with some sunshine and more showers possible around mid-week. Good for the garden.

Speaking of sizzle, we're reading 92 degrees as I write here at The Sun's Weather Desk. We touched 93 degrees a little earlier this afternoon. It's 90 at Dulles Airport in northern Virginia, and 87 at Reagan National.

Out at BWI-Marshall, the high so far looks like 88 degrees, a shade cooler than Thursday's high of 89. The BWI record for this date is 99 degrees, reached most recently in 1954.