A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for more than 12.8 million people across the Mid-Atlantic region, and forecasters are warning that the storms rolling in Sunday evening could be far more dangerous than a typical summer storm.
The watch covers large portions of Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and eastern West Virginia and remains active until 11 p.m. EDT. Major cities sitting directly in the storm’s path include Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Richmond, Fredericksburg, Hagerstown, Harrisonburg, Staunton and Roanoke.
What makes these storms especially dangerous
This is not a routine thunderstorm event. The primary threat is wind gusts reaching up to 70 mph — strong enough to snap trees, tear down power lines and send debris flying across roadways without warning. Isolated hail the size of ping pong balls is also possible with the most intense cells, along with frequent cloud-to-ground lightning throughout the evening.
Drivers on major corridors including Interstate 95, Interstate 66, Interstate 70, Interstate 81 and Interstate 64 should expect sudden drops in visibility, strong crosswinds and road debris as storms move through.
Who is most at risk
The watch zone encompasses approximately 3,133 schools and 150 hospitals across the region. Families with children at outdoor activities, sports events or summer gatherings need to move indoors immediately and should not wait for a warning to be issued. Thunderstorms in this setup can intensify within minutes.
What you need to do right now
Residents should secure any loose outdoor furniture, patio items or equipment before storms arrive. Charge your phone and have a backup method to receive emergency alerts — whether that is a weather radio, local notifications or a neighbor checking in.
Additional severe thunderstorm warnings may be issued throughout the evening as the storm system tracks east. Do not assume the threat has passed until well after 11 p.m. Sunday night.
Stay indoors. Stay informed. Stay safe.
