Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Arlington and the surrounding D.C. region.

Forecasters say thunderstorms with the potential for damaging wind and hail will spread across the area this afternoon and evening.

From the NWS:

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 377
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
220 PM EDT TUE JUN 30 2015

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND, NORTHERN NORTH CAROLINA, WESTERN AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA, EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA, COASTAL WATERS

* EFFECTIVE THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 220 PM UNTIL 900 PM EDT.

* PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE… SCATTERED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH POSSIBLE ISOLATED LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE

SUMMARY…THUNDERSTORMS WILL FORM SOON OVER EASTERN WV AND WESTERN VA…SPREADING EASTWARD ACROSS THE WATCH AREA. LOCALLY DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL ARE POSSIBLE IN THE STRONGEST CELLS.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 60 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM HAGERSTOWN MARYLAND TO 80 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF DUBLIN VIRGINIA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

REMEMBER…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.