AccuWeather reports that severe weather is expected in portions of Virginia and North Carolina tonight. Hail and flooding downpours are possible with wind gusts up to 65 mph.
The saturated ground could contribute to downed trees.
The watch affects a wide swath of Virginia and runs through Friday at 12 a.m.
The area for the watch includes Rockingham, Augusta, Albemarle and Nelson counties and surrounding cities.
Cities included in the severe thunderstorm watch for tonight are:
- Buena Vista
- Charlottesville
- Colonial Heights
- Covington
- Danville
- Emporia
- Franklin
- Harrisonburg
- Hopewell
- Lexington
- Lynchburg
- Martinsville
- Petersburg
- Richmond
- Roanoke
- Salem
- Staunton
- Waynesboro
Counties included in the severe thunderstorm watch are:
- Albemarle
- Alleghany
- Amelia
- Amherst
- Appomattox
- Augusta
- Bath
- Bedford
- Botetourt
- Brunswick
- Buckingham
- Campbell
- Caroline
- Charlotte
- Chesterfield
- Craig
- Culpeper
- Cumberland
- Dinwiddie
- Floyd
- Fluvanna
- Franklin
- Giles
- Goochland
- Greene
- Greensville
- Halifax
- Hanover
- Henrico
- Henry
- Highland
- Louisa
- Lunenburg
- Madison
- Mecklenburg
- Montgomery
- Nelson
- Nottoway
- Orange
- Page
- Patrick
- Pittsylvania
- Powhatan
- Prince Edward
- Prince George
- Rappahannock
- Roanoke
- Rockbridge
- Rockingham
- Shenandoah
- Southampton
- Spotsylvania
- Sussex
More storms are likely Friday night with formidable thunderstorms predicted in Virginia with strong wind gusts, frequent lightning strikes and flooding downpours. Significant power outages are possible.
There is potential for additional severe weather next week, according to AccuWeather.