Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Portions of Northern Virginia

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for the area until 4:30 p.m.:

AT 345 PM EDT...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM BROADLANDS TO NEAR HAYMARKET...MOVING EAST AT 40
MPH.

HAZARD...60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT...DAMAGING WINDS WILL CAUSE SOME TREES AND LARGE BRANCHES
TO FALL. THIS COULD INJURE THOSE OUTDOORS...AS WELL AS
DAMAGE HOMES AND VEHICLES. ROADWAYS MAY BECOME BLOCKED BY
DOWNED TREES. LOCALIZED POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE.
UNSECURED LIGHT OBJECTS MAY BECOME PROJECTILES.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ARLINGTON...GERMANTOWN...CENTREVILLE...ROCKVILLE...BETHESDA...
GAITHERSBURG...RESTON...LEESBURG...ANNANDALE...OLNEY...
SPRINGFIELD...SOUTH RIDING...HERNDON...FAIRFAX...VIENNA...FALLS
CHURCH...BROADLANDS...LANSDOWNE...LOWES ISLAND AND BRAMBLETON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

GET INDOORS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM WIND AND LIGHTNING. TREES AROUND
YOU MAY BE DOWNED FROM DAMAGING WINDS...SO IF YOU ARE NEAR LARGE
TREES...MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. DON`T DRIVE
UNDERNEATH TREES OR IN WOODED AREAS UNTIL THE THREAT HAS PASSED.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for the Washington, D.C., metro region Monday until 8 p.m., according to an alert sent out Monday afternoon by the National Weather Service.

A watch is issued when weather conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms. Patch will update if and when the weather service ramps up its alert to a warning.

The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang notes that any storms coming through the area could pack gusty winds, lightning and heavy downpours.

The National Weather Service notes the chance for rain is 60 percent.

PHOTO: Storm clouds photo via Shutterstock; click on weather map to enlarge. Area in rose is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 8 p.m. Monday, according to the NWS. NWS map.