Severe thunderstorm watch for areas in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia

The United States National Weather Service on Wednesday issued a severe thunderstorm watch for eastern areas of the country, including parts of Maryland, Northern Virginia and the national capital Washington DC. 

The warning will be in place till 10 pm ET. Such warnings mean residents of the area should immediately seek shelter as conditions for a severe storm are favourable but not assured, according to The Washington Post.

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The expected duration of the storm, in areas where it does hit, will most likely be between 30-45 minutes. Light and scattered rain, along with thunder in some areas, can pass through the regions.

According to Washington Post, the following areas have been bracketed with storm windows:

1) Winchester, Front Royal and Hagerstown near Interstate 81 likely to have a storm window between 1 pm and 4 pm.

2) Gainesville, Frederick and Leesburg on route 15 likely to have a storm window between 2 pm and 5 pm.

3) Upper Marlboro, Crofton and Waldorf on route 301 likely to have a storm window between 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm.

4) Washington, Baltimore and Fredericksburg on Interstate 95 likely to have a storm window between 3 pm and 6 pm.

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While the risks of these storms will be cleared by midnight, the potential hazards have been categorised. Downpours and Lightning have been placed in the ‘medium-high’ risk zone, small hail and damaging winds find their place in the ‘medium’ category. The possibility of tornadoes, flash flooding and large hail have been put in the ‘low’ possibility category, according to The Washington Post.