Weather Alert: Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued for Northern Virginia, DC

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch Saturday for Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, effective until 8 p.m., along with a gale warning for the Chesapeake Bay and inland waters.

A severe thunderstorm watch means that conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms. The weather service issued the weather alert at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Areas included in the severe thunderstorm watch are the cities and counties of Alexandria, Arlington, Chantilly, Charles Town, Charlottesville, Crozet, Culpeper, Fairfax, Falls Church, Frederick, Fredericksburg, Herndon, Huntingtown, Leesburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, Martinsburg, Mclean, Prince Frederick, Reston, Shepherdstown, Spotsylvania Courthouse, St. Charles, Stanardsville, Sterling, Warrenton, Washington, and Woodbridge.

The gale warning is in effect for all the waters Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means that the potential exists for the development of thunderstorms which may produce large hail or damaging winds. When a 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 weekend forecast:

Saturday: Warm with a 90 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. High near 68. South wind 14 to 16 mph becoming northwest. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday night: A chance of showers, mainly before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 34. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 47. West wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Sunday night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 37. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph.

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