NEW: Severe Storm Watch Until 9PM

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Southern Maryland and much of Virginia, West Virginia, and southeast Ohio through 9:00 PM Wednesday evening.

Thunderstorms are expected to develop and increase in coverage through the afternoon and evening as a disturbance moves across the region. Forecasters expect scattered to numerous storms capable of producing damaging wind gusts up to 65 mph, with the strongest storms also capable of producing large hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter. While not every location will experience severe weather, conditions are favorable for storms to rapidly intensify as they move east-southeastward toward the Chesapeake Bay and Southern Maryland.

What Is Driving Today’s Threat?

A hot, humid, and unstable atmosphere is in place across the Mid-Atlantic this afternoon. Thunderstorms developing over the mountains and interior portions of Virginia and West Virginia are expected to organize and move eastward during the peak heating hours of the day.

As these storms encounter the unstable air mass in place, some may strengthen into severe thunderstorms capable of producing widespread strong wind gusts. The Storm Prediction Center notes that damaging winds will be the primary hazard, though isolated hail is also possible within the strongest storm cores.

Main Threats

🌬️ Damaging Wind Gusts: Wind gusts of 60-65 mph possible. Strong enough to down tree limbs, cause isolated power outages, and create hazardous travel conditions. This is the primary concern this afternoon and evening.

🧊 Large Hail: Isolated hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter possible. Most likely in the strongest thunderstorms.

⚡ Frequent Lightning: All thunderstorms produce dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning.

🌧️ Heavy Downpours: Brief periods of torrential rainfall may reduce visibility and lead to localized ponding of water on roads.

🌪️ Low Tornado Risk: While not the primary threat, severe thunderstorms can occasionally produce brief tornadoes, especially if storms become organized.

Timing

⏰ 1 PM – 9 PM

The threat will gradually shift eastward through the afternoon and evening:

• Early afternoon: Development across West Virginia and western Virginia.
• Mid to late afternoon: Storms organize and move east.
• Late afternoon into evening: Greatest risk reaches Southern Maryland and Chesapeake Bay communities.

Residents should be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions, especially between 4 PM and 9 PM when storms may be at their strongest.

Watch vs. Warning

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms to develop. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning means a severe thunderstorm is occurring or imminent and immediate action should be taken. Remember:

🌮 Taco Watch = The ingredients are on the counter.

🌮 Taco Warning = The taco is ready to eat.

Bottom Line

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Southern Maryland through 9 PM as thunderstorms develop and move east across the region. The greatest threat will be damaging wind gusts up to 65 mph, although isolated large hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter is also possible. Keep an eye on the sky this afternoon and evening, and make sure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings should severe storms approach your location.

Stay with JB Weather for the latest information on impacts here in Southern Maryland and across the Mid-Atlantic. You can always access my forecasts and updates here on the website, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram, and on YouTube. JB Weather is the Mid-Atlantic’s Weather Leader, and I am working around the clock to keep you ahead of any storm!