Severe Thunderstorm Watch Until 10 PM July 1

2:15 PM July 1 – A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued until 10 PM or southern Pennsylvania, central Maryland, northern Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey. This means there is a potential that thunderstorms could reach limits with 60 mph winds, large hail over 1 inch in diameter, an isolated tornado, and frequent dangerous lightning. Note the storms will move to the east and south, so the northern edge of this Watch area will likely be cancelled. See the radar simulation below for likely timing.
While we are under a slight risk of severe storms, the radar simulation below shows strong storms moving through metro Baltimore and Washington during prime traveling time.  I feel the need to clarify one thing: Please do not get hung up on the word severe. If you have plans outside, any thunderstorm regardless of intensity poses a safety risk.  There are more people hurt or killed by lightning in storms that are NOT severe because those are the events that are not taken as seriously. I never intend to scare, but just be smart. Like any lifeguard would evacuate a public pool or beach when thunder is heard… you should head indoors if there is a storm moving your way.

Please consider that these are suggestions of where storms will form and travel. Allow for a buffer of +/- 1 hour as well as 50 mile range of where the individual cells may move.

• Central Maryland should pay attention between 2 PM and 6 PM.
• Eastern Shore this evening (after 5PM)
• Beaches this afternoon and again around sunset (8 PM)