JUST IN: Severe Thunderstorm Watch In Effect for Fairfax County

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for the area until 11 p.m. today.

The National Weather Service says that strong and widespread thunderstorms are in the afternoon and into the evening.

Another, possibly stronger and more widespread round of thunderstorms is expected this afternoon/evening. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the areas highlighted in green on map 1. Also, the threat level for severe weather has been increased across the areas in yellow on map 2 pic.twitter.com/JvPr1GcDKO

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 6, 2020

Forecasters also say to watch out for damaging winds, large hail and an isolated threat for flooding.

A flash flood watch is also in effect until 6 p.m. today in Herndon and Reston.

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS, IN MARYLAND, ANNE ARUNDEL, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST HOWARD, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY, NORTHERN BALTIMORE, NORTHWEST HARFORD, PRINCE GEORGES, SOUTHEAST HARFORD, AND SOUTHERN BALTIMORE. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA.

* UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING

* THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THIS EVENING ALONG THE I-95 CORRIDOR. SOME AREAS MAY EXPERIENCE MULTIPLE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THIS EVENING. RAINFALL AMOUNTS  OF 1-2 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE, WITH SOME ISOLATED AMOUNTS OVER 3  INCHES POSSIBLE. THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN OVER URBAN AREAS MAY LEAD TO INSTANCES OF FLASH FLOODING, AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL FOR CREEKS AND STREAMS TO RISE RAPIDLY IF SOME OF THE HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE REALIZED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

Staff photo by Jay Westcott