VIRGINIA — A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 12 p.m. EDT Thursday for a large portion of Virginia as forecasters warn that storms developing through the afternoon and evening could become strong to severe.
The watch includes much of western, central and south-central Virginia, including the counties of Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Buchanan, Buckingham, Campbell, Carroll, Charlotte, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Greene, Halifax, Henry, Highland, Montgomery, Nelson, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Smyth, Tazewell and Wythe.
Independent cities included in the watch are Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Covington, Danville, Galax, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Radford, Roanoke, Salem, Staunton and Waynesboro.
According to the National Weather Service, scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and evening, with some becoming severe. The primary threats include damaging wind gusts, isolated large hail and localized flooding caused by heavy rainfall.
The National Weather Service office in Blacksburg said the highest probability for severe storms is along and north of the Virginia-North Carolina border, while localized flooding concerns are greatest in the mountainous areas.
Residents are encouraged to remain weather aware throughout the day, have multiple ways to receive weather warnings and be prepared to move indoors if severe thunderstorms approach.
