The National Weather Service (NWS) is urging residents across the D.C. region to take Monday’s severe weather threat seriously after the Storm Prediction Center upgraded the area to a Moderate Risk, which is level 4 out of 5.

NWS forecasters say damaging winds, including gusts of 65-75 mph, and a few tornadoes, some of them potentially strong, are possible as a powerful system moves through the region. The Baltimore/Washington forecast office also says severe thunderstorms capable of producing significant damaging winds and tornadoes are expected with a strong cold front on Monday. 

The latest outlook graphic from NWS Baltimore/Washington shows the region in the moderate risk zone, with the greatest concern centered on widespread damaging winds, along with a tornado threat, frequent lightning, and heavy downpours.

Timing posted by the NWS shows the highest threat for areas east of the Blue Ridge, including the D.C. metro area, between 4pm and 9pm Monday. The National Weather Service forecast for Washington also says thunderstorms are possible after 11am Monday and warns that some of the storms could be severe. 

FOX5 meteorologist Mike Thomas said the setup is especially unusual for this region, noting that Washington has not been included in a Day 2 moderate risk for severe weather in more than a decade, dating back to June 12, 2013.

He also said Monday’s setup includes a 15% significant tornado risk and a 60% significant wind damage risk, underscoring how serious forecasters believe the threat could become. As he put it, this is not the kind of outlook the Storm Prediction Center issues lightly.

Matchbox will be closing its location at Bethesda Row on Sunday, March 22, ending a run that began when the restaurant opened there in October 2019.

The restaurant officially opened on Saturday, October 12, 2019, at 7278 Woodmont Avenue, taking over a 5,750SF space previously occupied by American Tap Room. The opening was part of a broader regional expansion by Thompson Hospitality, which had taken over management of the brand the year prior.

The Bethesda Row restaurant features a large wood-fired pizza oven as a central focal point of the dining room. The space was designed to accommodate significant capacity, with seating for 180 guests indoors and an additional 32 seats on an outdoor patio.

While the Bethesda location has closed, Matchbox continues to operate two other restaurants in Montgomery County. Those locations remain open at 1699 Rockville Pike in Rockville’s Congressional Plaza and at 919 Ellsworth Drive in Downtown Silver Spring.

The community is rallying around the family of Harry Kazanjian, owner and pastry chef of Les Délices French Bakery, following his death earlier this month. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support his family and assist Les Délices French Bakery during this difficult time.

Family members said Kazanjian was struck by a vehicle on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the intersection of Norbeck Road and Avery Road in Rockville. He died at the scene. For nearly four decades, Kazanjian served the community through Les Délices, the family owned bakery he opened in 1987 that became known for its French pastries, cakes and specialty desserts across the Washington region.

According to the bakery, Kazanjian spent 38 years crafting desserts and developing signature creations such as Hazelnut Crunch, Mango Passion Pistachio and Lychee Guava cakes, along with a wide selection of gluten free pastries. The shop has long operated as a family business, with his wife, sister in law Maria and other family members working alongside him over the years.

Organizers of the fundraiser say donations will help support Kazanjian’s family and assist the bakery during this difficult time. A funeral service for Kazanjian is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at St Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, followed by burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Family members are also asking anyone who may have been traveling on Norbeck Road near Avery Road between approximately 6:10 pm and 6:35 pm on March 1, or who may have dash camera footage from the area, to contact the bakery at info@lesdelicesbakery.com

Thirty years after retracing the path of the Underground Railroad on foot, a Germantown historian plans to make the journey again, this time marking the nation’s 250th birthday while highlighting the legacy of Harriet Tubman.

In 1996, Anthony Michael Cohen walked from Maryland to Canada in search of traces of Tubman’s Underground Railroad. At the time, Cohen was a 32-year-old graduate student with a backpack and time to spare. By the time he completed the journey, the experience had brought national attention, including an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and helped shape what would become his lifelong career as a historian.

Now 62, Cohen plans to retrace that journey in 2026 with a message centered on reflection and unity. “Let’s take pride in all the great moments of our past as we look forward to our collective future,” Cohen said.

The 750-mile pilgrimage, titled #FreedomWalk2026, will begin May 4 at the Sandy Spring Slave Museum. From there, Cohen will travel through Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York before concluding the journey in Toronto, Canada on July 4, 2026.

The walk will be funded primarily through a per-mile pledge campaign supported by the public through Cohen’s organization, the Menare Foundation. According to Cohen, that grassroots support reflects the collective effort that helped make the Underground Railroad possible during Tubman’s time.

Unlike his first walk three decades ago, which he largely completed alone until national media attention brought wider recognition, Cohen will be joined this time by a small team of supporters. The journey will also include a 2,200-pound bronze sculpture of Harriet Tubman created by North Carolina artist Wesley Wofford.

“The mission of the walk is to bring attention to what Harriet Tubman stood for as an American,” Cohen said. “Harriet means unwavering courage, liberation, and humanitarianism.” The sculpture, titled “Journey to Freedom,” will travel along the route and be displayed during stops designed to encourage community engagement.

As Cohen moves from town to town, he plans to stop at historically significant locations each day to highlight key landmarks connected to the Underground Railroad. On weekends, the team will host “Activation Days,” where the sculpture will be displayed for public viewing.

These events are expected to include presentations, service projects, music, food, and community walks that allow members of the public to participate in portions of the journey.

In addition to the Menare Foundation, the #FreedomWalk2026 initiative is supported by several nonprofit organizations, including Coming to the Table, Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth, Washington Revels, and the Potomac Community Foundation.