Norman, OK – A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been expanded to cover nearly the entire Commonwealth of Virginia through 10 p.m. EDT Tuesday, as forecasters warn that conditions remain favorable for dangerous thunderstorms capable of producing widespread damaging weather.
According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, Severe Thunderstorm Watch 509 now includes most Virginia counties and independent cities, significantly expanding beyond the initial watch area. The watch also remains in effect for portions of north-central and northwestern North Carolina, with additional counties added in southwest Virginia and Greenbrier County, West Virginia.
Major metropolitan areas under the watch include Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Hampton, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Manassas, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Winchester, Harrisonburg, Danville, Petersburg, Fredericksburg, Williamsburg, and Suffolk.
A severe thunderstorm watch means atmospheric conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms. Storms that form this afternoon and evening could produce damaging wind gusts exceeding 60 mph, large hail, frequent cloud-to-ground lightning, and torrential rainfall, with isolated flash flooding possible in areas that receive repeated heavy downpours.
The National Weather Service also extended the watch to include Craig and Montgomery counties in Virginia and Greenbrier County in southeastern West Virginia, highlighting the broadening threat as storms move across the region.
Residents across Virginia and neighboring states are encouraged to closely monitor weather updates, keep emergency alerts enabled, and have multiple ways to receive warnings. If a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued for your area, move indoors immediately and stay away from windows until the storm passes.
