Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued

Arlington and much of the rest of the D.C. area is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch tonight.

Forecasters say a line of storms may roll through the area with wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour. From the National Weather Service:

ORGANIZED THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX OVER WEST VIRGINIA AND EASTERN KENTUCKY SHOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHEASTWARD TO EAST-SOUTHEASTWARD INTO THE WATCH AREA…EITHER MAINTAINING INTENSITY OR (IF IT TEMPORARILY WEAKENS) STRENGTHENING AGAIN ONCE ENCOUNTERING FAVORABLE AIR MASS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS. AS SUCH…DAMAGING GUSTS ARE EXPECTED AND ISOLATED…MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE.

The storm watch is in effect through 1:00 a.m. A Flash Flood Watch is also in effect tonight, with forecasters warning of the potential for torrential rainfall of 1-2 inches during the storms.