NoVA Cities, 65 VA Counties Under Severe Thunderstorm Watch

VIRGINIA — A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 10 p.m. for 65 Virginia counties, plus 20 communities in the region, Thursday 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 Delmarva Peninsula late Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

The severe thunderstorm watch for the Washington and Baltimore region extends south through Richmond to nearly the Virginia-North Carolina border.

“Thunderstorms will continue to intensify along the Blue Ridge over central VA, with storms moving eastward across the watch area through the afternoon,” the Weather Service said. “The strongest cells will pose a risk of damaging wind gusts and hail.”

The best chance of severe storms developing, which are defined as storms with gusts at least 58 mph or hail at least one inch in diameter, is from roughly 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said.

The severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for these communities: Alexandria, Charlottesville, Colonial Heights, Danville, Emporia, Fairfax, Falls Church, Franklin, Fredericksburg, Hampton, Hopewell, Lynchburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, Martinsville, Newport News, Petersburg, Poquoson, Richmond and Williamsburg.

Counties under the watch include: Fairfax, Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park.

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 DC/Northern Virginia forecast:

Thursday Afternoon: Isolated showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. High near 86. Southwest wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 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 midnight, then scattered showers between midnight and 3am. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Low around 50. North wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 9am, then scattered showers between 9am and 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 59. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. North wind 5 to 7 mph.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Northeast wind 8 to 11 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 59.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 63.