Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for DC Metro Area

National Weather Service map released Wednesday at 3:20 p.m. shows area in yellow under a Tornado Watch

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UPDATE 5:30 p.m.: The DC Metro area is under a Thunderstorm Warning until 6:15 p.m. Wednesday: THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60

MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM BROADLANDS TO NEAR DALE CITY TO NEAR STAFFORD...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

Earlier, the National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch Wednesday for the metro DC region, from 3:20 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The main hazards are damaging winds and tornados late this afternoon through this evening, according to the weather service. A Gale Warning is also in effect for all waters late this afternoon through Thursday.

Virginia State Police confirmed at 5:25 p.m. three deaths in Waverly, Va., south of Richmond, after a tornado touched down there. Earlier, The Weather Channel reported that two had died:

At 4 p.m., NBC-4 Doug Kammerer said he expects the worst weather between 5-8 p.m. Wednesday in the DC metro area.

Dominion warns to be on the lookout for any downed power lines and offers these safety tips:

Downed power lines are dangerous. If you feel a downed line presents clear and imminent danger to you, your property or to others, call 911 first!

· Please stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines, even if you don’t see a spark or hear it snap. Consider them ENERGIZEDand DANGEROUS.

• Electricity travels! Never touch a power line with any part of your body or with objects. Remember that electricity can move through conductive materials like water, metal, wood, aluminum, string and plastics.
• If a power line should fall on your vehicle:
  • Stay inside the vehicle until help arrives, as your car may be energized.
  • Warn others not to touch the vehicle and have them call for help.
  • If you must leave the vehicle, jump as far away as possible with both feet landing on the ground at the same time. DO NOT touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time.
• If someone makes contact with a downed power line, don’t try to rescue them because you risk becoming a victim yourself. Call 911.
• Keep away from heavily flooded and debris-laden areas; power lines could be buried underneath.
• Protect your pets! If you see a downed power line, keep your pets as far away from them as possible.

If you see it, report it!

• Call us at 1-866-366-4357 (1-866-DOM-HELP). It’s important to remain on the call and speak with a representative to report the downed power line to us.
• Be prepared to provide as much information about the location and condition of the line as possible. This helps us secure the line and ensure safety as soon as possible.
• We respond to every downed line call.
• Did you know that all downed lines are not power lines? First, we will assess all downed lines - our priority is to make sure the area is safe. Then we will mark the line to identify it - yellow tape if it is electrical wire, orange tape if it belongs to another utility. As crews are available, they complete final repairs as quickly and safely as possible.
• Continue to be safe and stay back at least 30 feet or more from the area until the line is repaired.

Flood Watch Wednesday: Timing, Impacts

Warmer air from the south is destabilizing the atmosphere, the Capital Weather Gang notes; they tweeted out this map Wednesday: “Winds a mile up blowing at hurricane force, drawing tropical air N. Fuel for storms later.”

The National Weather Service forecast for Wednesday afternoon in Northern Virginia says to expect:

• Before 1 p.m.: Rain
• 1-4 p.m.: Showers
• After 4 p.m.: Possible thunderstorm

Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall, according to the weather service forecast. Temperatures are expected to reach near 63. Winds are expected to be breezy, with a southeast wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch are possible Wednesday, according to the weather service.

Wednesday night, expect showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 10 p.m., then scattered showers between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. Expect low temperatures Wednesday night into Thursday morning around 44 degrees. Wind gusts could again hit about 31 MPH and the area could see another quarter to a half-inch of rain.

PHOTO of lightning courtesy of NWS