Washington: Severe thunderstorms and powerful winds struck the Washington DC region for a second day, disrupting communities as crews continued clearing damage from earlier storms.

The Washington DC region faced another round of severe storms and high temperatures on Friday, a day after powerful overnight weather toppled hundreds of trees and left thousands without electricity.

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the region, warning that damaging winds were the main threat, while large hail and tornadoes were also possible. The watch was cancelled across the region in the evening.

Wind gusts approached 70 miles per hour in some areas. Meteorologists also warned of torrential rainfall, with some storms producing between two and three inches of rain per hour. Such rainfall could sharply reduce visibility and create hazardous conditions for motorists.

The latest storms came as emergency and municipal crews continued efforts to clear roads and remove fallen trees following Thursday night’s severe weather.

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said more than 300 trees had fallen across the city during the overnight storm. Crews were deployed throughout the capital to clear roads and restore normal movement.

The severe weather threat was expected to ease overnight, although isolated periods of heavy rain and frequent lightning remained possible.

The storms followed a period of high heat across the region, adding to the disruption caused by the severe weather. Forecasters said conditions were expected to improve as a cold front moved through the area.

The arrival of the cold front was expected to bring lower temperatures and reduced humidity during the remainder of the Labour Day weekend. Some showers could continue into Saturday afternoon, but clearer and cooler conditions were forecast afterwards.

The repeated storms have placed additional pressure on local authorities and emergency crews already dealing with extensive damage from the previous night. Fallen trees can block major roads, damage property and disrupt electricity supplies, while intense rainfall can create dangerous driving conditions within a short period.

The latest weather episode highlights the challenges faced by the Washington DC region as severe storms and high temperatures occur in close succession.

Although the immediate threat was expected to decline, authorities continued to urge residents to remain alert to heavy rain, lightning and localised hazards while clean up operations continued.