Tornado Watch for DC Area Until 3pm

The potential for tornadoes continues until 3pm today. Remember, a tornado watch means that conditions are favorable for the possible formation of tornadoes. If a tornado warning is issued, seek shelter immediately. You can view the current weather radar on the National Weather Service's website.

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
MUCH OF MARYLAND
A SMALL PART OF NORTHWEST AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA
MUCH OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN VIRGINIA
COASTAL WATERS

EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON FROM 740 AM UNTIL

300 PM EDT.

TORNADOES...HAIL TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND
GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 80 STATUTE

MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 35 MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF
BALTIMORE MARYLAND TO 35 MILES EAST OF DANVILLE VIRGINIA.  FOR A

COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE

UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...THIS TORNADO WATCH REPLACES TORNADO
WATCH NUMBER 247. WATCH NUMBER 247 WILL NOT BE IN EFFECT AFTER
740 AM EDT. CONTINUE...WW 249...WW 250...

DISCUSSION...A BROKEN BAND OF CONVECTION CONTINUES TO DEVELOP E OF
THE BLUE RIDGE AND THE SYNOPTIC COLD FRONT.  A BREAK IN THE
CONVECTION IN NC IS ALLOWING AN UNIMPEDED INFLUX OF LOW-LEVEL
MOISTURE INTO VA...AND VERTICAL SHEAR PROFILES REMAIN STRONG.  GIVEN
THE STRONG SHEAR AND MOIST PROFILES WITH WEAK INSTABILITY...THE
POTENTIAL FOR A FEW TORNADOES AND DAMAGING WINDS WITH
SUPERCELLS/BOWS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST MIDDAY OR EARLY
AFTERNOON.