18 MD Counties, Plus Baltimore City, Under Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Updated at 4:15 p.m.

MARYLAND — A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 10 p.m. for 18 Maryland counties plus the city of Baltimore, with wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour and hail possible. A line of powerful storms is moving into the I-95 corridor and will also sweep across the Eastern Shore late Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

"A cold front pushes toward the area later this afternoon into early evening," the Baltimore-Washington office of the National Weather Service said. "With the front comes the increased risk for severe storms mainly in areas along & east of I-95. Primary threats with any storms that form include damaging winds & large hail."

The severe thunderstorm watch includes: Cecil, Baltimore, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Charles, St. Marys, Calvert, Montgomery, Howard, Harford, Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, plus the city of Baltimore.

The hazardous weather outlook is for the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and District of Columbia.

Temperatures will climb Thursday and a cold front will lift warm, moist air over the region. "Some ongoing thunderstorms will regain intensity," said AccuWeather forecasters in their latest update.

"Just enough warm air and moisture will be present ahead of an advancing cold front to trigger heavy, gusty and locally severe thunderstorms," AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyssa Smithmyer said. "The main threats from the storms on Thursday will be from wind and hail."

The biggest threat of severe storms will be 4 and 8 p.m. Thursday, said National Weather Service forecasters. Damaging wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour and quarter-sized hail are possible with this system, and the tornado threat "remains very low" the NWS tweeted Thursday morning.

The front may "take its time" clearing the area into the evening, forecasters added.

Here's a look at the Maryland forecast:

Thursday Afternoon: Isolated showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. High near 83. West wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11pm, then scattered showers between 11pm and 2am. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Low around 52. Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: Isolated showers between 8am and 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 62. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Northwest wind around 6 mph.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Northeast wind 7 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 61.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 64.