Maryland Weather Alert: Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued

BALTIMORE, MD — The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for several Maryland counties and Baltimore City, from 1:35 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

The watch area includes: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery and Prince George's counties and Baltimore City. Much of suburban Washington, DC, in Northern Virginia is also under the watch.

A severe thunderstorm watch means that conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms that can produce hail and damaging winds. Isolated tornadoes are also possible.

This includes the cities of Aberdeen, Annapolis, Arnold, Aspen Hill, Bel Air, Bethesda, Bowie, California, Camp Springs, Catonsville, Clinton, College Park, Columbia, Dundalk, Edgewood, Eldersburg, Ellicott City, Essex, Fallston, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Glen Burnie, Greenbelt, Havre De Grace, Joppatowne, Laurel, Lusby, Odenton, Parkville, Pikesville, Potomac, Rockville, Severn, Severna Park, Silver Spring, and Towson.

When a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued, you should go about your normal activities but keep an eye to the sky and an ear to the National Weather Service’s weather radio or local radio and television stations for further updates and possible warnings.

The forecast:

Saturday afternoon: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Cloudy, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 101. South wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then isolated showers between 8pm and 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the morning.

Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Monday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. West wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then isolated showers between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Independence Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.

Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.

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