Tornado watch issued for eastern WV, MD, VA, DC

National Weather Service

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A tornado watch has been issued for Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan, Hampshire, Hardy and Pendleton Counties of West Virginia through Friday night.

Also included are DC, parts of Maryland and Virginia.

The National Weather Service’s DC/Baltimore office announced the alert shortly before 1 Friday afternoon. It expires at midnight Saturday.

The agency previously had the area listed under a Flash Flood Watch.

“Heavy rain moving in this afternoon through tonight,” said Accuweather Meterologist Bill Dager. “The heaviest stuff moves in from the afternoon into early tonight. 1 to 2 inches of rain, maybe some locally damaging wind gusts and a few thunderstorms as well.”

“It certainly looks like it will be a very soggy afternoon. So any outdoor plans today will be impacted if not ruined by the weather. Even into the day tomorrow (Saturday), we expect some showers to be around to start the day. But, it will improve a bit Saturday and Sunday especially each afternoon.”

This story will be updated

WEPM’s Melanie Miller contributed to this story.