Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued Tuesday for Northern Virginia

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch Tuesday afternoon for Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The weather advisory is in effect until 11 p.m. Tuesday. The area was rocked by storms Monday night and many homes lost power.

Areas under the Watch Tuesday are:

• Alexandria
• Arlington
• Fairfax City
• Fairfax County
• Falls Church
• Loudoun County

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A Heat Advisory is in effect for the region until 8 p.m. Tuesday. The high Tuesday is expected to top out at about 97 degrees, according to the weather service.

A Thunderstorm Watch is when conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. A severe thunderstorm by definition is a thunderstorm that produces one inch hail or larger in diameter and/or winds equal or exceed 58 miles an hour, according to the weather service.

During the watch, people should review severe thunderstorm safety rules and be prepared to move to a place of safety if threatening weather approaches, according to the NWS.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla.

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