Severe Thunderstorms Headed For NoVa

Get ready to hunker down, because severe thunderstorms are barrelling toward the D.C. and Northern Virginia area.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia until 9 p.m.

The threat includes the possibility of isolated hail up to the size of a ping pong ball, scattered gusts up to 70 miles per hour, and frequent lightning possible.

The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang says the storms are likely to hit Interstate 81 west of here at 3 p.m., roll into Northern Virginia by 4 p.m., and then strike Fauquier County, Prince William County, and the Beltway by 5 p.m. By 6 p.m, it should reach the east and southeast suburbs of D.C.

CWG says that conditions "really aren't that favorable" for widespread storms, but this squall line should give us a swift but forceful dose of stormy weather. The highest risk is just south of the Beltway.

A severe thunderstorm watch "is issued by the National Weather Service when conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area," states the NWS website. "A severe thunderstorm by definition is a thunderstorm that produces one inch hail or larger in diameter and/or winds equal or exceed 58 miles an hour. The size of the watch can vary depending on the weather situation. They are usually issued for a duration of 4 to 8 hours. They are normally issued well in advance of the actual occurrence of severe weather. During the watch, people should review severe thunderstorm safety rules and be prepared to move to a place of safety if threatening weather approaches."

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of DC, MD, VA until 9 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/Rq57JSoNV1
— NWS DC/Baltimore (@NWS_BaltWash) May 22, 2018

The storm likely will last an hour or two, and there is a 60 to 90 percent of measurable rainfall in any location, CWG predicts. The storm is moving from northwest to southeast.

Because of all the rain we've gotten that has saturated the ground, flooding is a distinct possibility. In the heaviest hit areas, we could see two inches of rain. More than half a foot of rain fell in the D.C. and Northern Virginia area over the past week, leading to widespread flooding problems.

So keep that umbrella handy and be ready to run for cover if you're out and about. But fortunately, it doesn't look like you'll have to cancel any evening plans at this point. You'll just have to wait it out.

(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)