Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Tornado Watch Issued For NoVA, DC

WASHINGTON, DC — A storm system that carries a risk of tornadoes and flooding has prompted the National Weather service to issue a severe thunderstorm warning for Washington, D.C., and parts of northern Virginia.

The District of Columbia, Arlington County, and east-central Fairfax County are under the thunderstorm warning until 6:30 p.m. At 5:27 p.m. a severe thunderstorm was located over Friendship Village, or near Fort Totten, moving east at 35 mph. The weather service said 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail were possible from the storm.

Reagan National Airport is within the severe thunderstorm warning area.

The District of Columbia and northern Virginia are under a tornado watch through Thursday evening as severe thunderstorms move through the region. The National Weather Service said damaging winds and isolated tornadoes are possible, with severe weather most likely between 4 and 9 p.m.

The tornado risk is highest for areas along and north of U.S Highway 50. Scattered instances of flash flooding are possible in the District of Columbia, northeast Maryland, and portions of northeast Virginia.

A severe thunderstorm warning for northeastern Loudoun County and northwestern Fairfax County was set to expire at 4:45 p.m. At 4:06 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located near Leesburg, moving east at 30 mph.

The storm produced 60 mph wind gusts, the National Weather Service said.

Damaging winds will cause some trees and large branches to fall that could cause injuries, damage homes and vehicles, bring down trees or block roads, the weather service warned. Localized power outages are possible.

The tornado watch is in effect until 10 p.m.

Virginia counties included in the watch are: Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Warren.

Cities in the watch include: Alexandria, Charlottesville, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg , Manassas, Manassas Park, plus Washington, D.C.