Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued For Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — A major storm will threaten Montgomery County and most of Maryland late Monday afternoon and into the early evening, and the National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for our area.

The watch will be in effect until 9 p.m. NWS warns that "a couple tornadoes" are possible as well as isolated hail up to the size of a ping pong ball. Gusts of up to 75 miles per hour are "likely."

The watch covers a wide area, including all of Maryland west of the Chesapeake Bay, Northern Virginia and D.C., Southwest Pennsylvania, the northern half of West Virginia, and the southeast corner of Ohio.

"The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded much of the area to an enhanced risk for severe weather today," NWS tweeted earlier today. "Damaging winds will be the primary threat with these storms moving in this afternoon."

We could see more storms later this week. NWS says isolated severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts and large hail are a risk Tuesday afternoon and evening, and heavy rains Thursday night and Friday may result in some flooding.

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Keep in mind that a severe thunderstorm watch means that there is potential for severe thunderstorms, whereas a severe thunderstorm warning means that a storm has developed and will strike soon.

NWS offers the following tips for staying safe during a severe thunderstorm:

• The best defense against thunderstorms is to stay inside a sturdy building or shelter that can protect you from deadly lightning, large hail, damaging winds, flooding rain and tornadoes. Fortunately, thunderstorms typically do not last very long and will most often pass by your location in less than one hour.
• Once in a shelter, stay away from windows and avoid electrical equipment and plumbing. Remember to bring pets inside. If there is time, secure loose objects outside as these objects often become dangerous flying debris in high winds.
• Postpone outdoor activities until the storms have passed.
• If caught outside, take shelter in a sturdy enclosed building or hard top automobile immediately. Avoid open spaces, isolated objects, high ground and metallic objects.
• Get out of boats and away from bodies of water. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning.

Image via National Weather Service