UPDATE: New Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued at 5:30 PM for Parts of Northern VA

UPDATE 5:30 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a new Severe Thunderstorm Warning, at 5:30 p.m. for Fairfax County, Falls Church, Fairfax City, Alexandria and Arlington County, until 6:15 p.m.

At 5:31 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located over South Riding moving southeast at 25 MPH, the weather service reported.

Expect 70 MPH winds, half-dollar size hail, according to the NWS. Damaging winds coudl cause some trees and large branches to fall. Roadways could become blocked by downed trees. Power outages are possible. Unsecured light objects could become projectiles.

Locations impacted include Arlington, Alexandria, Centreville, Reston, Annandale, Springfield, Fairfax, Fort Hunt, Vienna, Groveton, Falls Church, Huntington, Mantua, Fort Belvoir, Pimmit Hills, Crystal City, Reagan National Airport, McLean, Rosslyn and Burke.

Precautionary actions, according to the weather service: Get indoors to protect yourself from wind and lightning. Trees around you may be downed from damaging winds. Move to an interior room on the lowest floors.

UPDATE 5 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a new Severe Thunderstorm Warning for northwestern Fairfax County, northwestern Prince William County and southern Loudoun County until 5:45 p.m.

The weather service warns the storm is packing golf ball-size hail and 70 mph winds and could mean damage to power lines and trees. Hail is large enough to dent and damage vehicles, roofs and windows.

Areas impacted could include Centreville, Reston, South Riding, Herndon, Broadlands, Brambleton, Dulles International Airport, Ashburn, Sterling, Chantilly, Bull Run and other nearby areas.

If you're near large trees, move to an interior room on the lowest floor, the weather service warns. Also don't drive underneath trees or in wooded areas until the threat has passed.

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UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning Tuesday at 3:27 p.m. for Fairfax County, central Prince William County, City of Manassas, Alexandria, southeastern Loudoun County, City of Manassas Park and Fairfax City until 4:15 p.m.

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UPDATE 2:24 p.m.: The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning Tuesday at 2:20 p.m. for the DC metro area including Washington, D.C., Alexandria, Arlington County, Falls Church and northeastern Fairfax County. The warning lasts until 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, according to the NWS.

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UPDATE: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch, in effect for Northern Virginia and surrounding areas Tuesday until 9 p.m. The watch was issued at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

A severe thunderstorm watch means that atmospheric conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorm development. The severe thunderstorm watch outlines an area where an organized threat of severe thunderstorms is expected generally during a three- to six-hour period.

A Warning means a thunderstorm is imminent.

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Earlier story Tuesday: There's a threat for thunderstorms to sweep through northern Virginia Tuesday afternoon and later in the evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Here's the NWS forecast for the area Tuesday afternoon and evening:

"...Showers and thunderstorms likely this afternoon. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds this afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s. West winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent. Mostly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms likely in the evening...then mostly clear with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds in the evening. Lows in the upper 60s. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent."

The Capital Weather Gang notes that "some of these storms could be strong or even severe, and they could produce locally heavy rain."

Highs Tuesday will be in the high 80s, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters say Wednesday is looking clear, and more storm threats are on the horizon for Thursday in Northern Virginia.

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