Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued For NoVA, DC

WASHINGTON, DC — Parts of northern Virginia and the District of Columbia are under a severe thunderstorm watch Wednesday evening. A watch means thunderstorms may develop that could produce damaging winds. The National Weather Service said scattered thunderstorms could produce damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes.

A hazardous weather outlook has also been issued for the region. The severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until midnight.

These areas are included in the watch: Washington, D.C., Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, King George, Loudoun, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Alexandria, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, Chantilly, Leesburg, McLean, Reston, Sterling and Woodbridge.

When a severe thunderstorm watch is issued, people can go about their normal activities, keeping an eye to the sky and an ear to the National Weather Service's weather radio or local media for updates and possible warnings. A severe thunderstorm is defined as producing hail the size of a quarter or larger and damaging wind gusts of at least 58 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Here's a first look at the Labor Day weekend forecast:

Wednesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers between 11pm and 2am. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds. Cloudy during the early evening, then becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Patchy fog between 7am and 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 92. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Patchy fog. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 71. West wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northwest wind 6 to 8 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. North wind around 8 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 83.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.

Labor Day: Sunny, with a high near 85.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.