Tornado Watch Issued In Maryland; Severe Weather Expected

BALTIMORE, MD — Severe weather is expected in the city of Baltimore and 12 Maryland counties overnight and it could last into Mother's Day. A tornado watch is in effect in 10 counties, including the Baltimore region.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for much of Maryland, saying thunderstorms are expected to develop into the evening across the area. These storms will have the potential to produce damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall, which could lead to isolated flash flooding, according to the NWS.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for the Washington DC metropolitan area until 11 p.m. Saturday. A tornado watch is in effect for the Baltimore metropolitan area until 1 a.m. overnight. Damaging winds and large hail are possible this evening, and an isolated tornado is also possible.

The NWS tornado watch includes Baltimore city and these counties:

• Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot.

The severe thunderstorm watch for DC and northern Virginia also include Montgomery and Prince George's counties.

Here are the alerted areas (tornado watch is in yellow):

Here is what is expected, according to The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang: "New storms may erupt closer to the immediate metro area as the evening wears on. In both the severe thunderstorm and tornado watch zones, storms capable of producing damaging winds and large hail are possible. ... This is a situation where storms are likely to be hit or miss…not everyone will see storms, but storms that form may be intense."

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Mother's Day could be similar. There are actually several chances for showers and thunderstorms from Sunday through Friday. Heavy rainfall totals may occur by the end of the week, with the threat of localized flooding increasing with time.

People preoccupied with graduation ceremonies, weddings, cookouts and other events should be prepared for weather conditions that can change from bright and sunny to dark and stormy in a matter of minutes, according to AccuWeather.

In addition to causing some outdoor plans to be canceled or moved indoors, the severe storms could trigger power outages and inflict property and tree damage on some communities, according to an AccuWeather release.

"Storms will exit southeastern Pennsylvania and move into southern New Jersey and the Delmarva this evening, bringing a continued threat for damaging winds and hail," AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologist Billy Clark said in the release.

As soon as thunder is heard, the risk of being struck by lightning is present. Move indoors and away from windows when thunderstorms threaten, according to AccuWeather. Drivers should be prepared to face blinding downpours, standing water on the roads and a heightened risk of hydroplaning.

To the displeasure of those hoping to spend Mother's Day outdoors, the passage of the severe storms will not mark the end of the wet weather this weekend. Additional showers and thunderstorms will cross the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic from Saturday night through Sunday and into early next week, according to AccuWeather.

Here is the forecast:

Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Some storms could be severe, with large hail and damaging winds. Patchy fog after 2am. Low around 60. Northeast wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 67. Northeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 58. East wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Thursday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

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