Tornado Watch Issued In Northern Virginia, DC On Halloween

VIRGINIA — Conditions are favorable for the development of a tornado in Northern Virginia and DC on Halloween, according to the National Weather Service. The tornado watch is effective Thursday, Oct. 31 until midnight, according to the National Weather Service.

A watch means that conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms that could produce a tornado; should one occur, the weather service generally issues a tornado warning.

The jurisdictions under the watch include:

• District of Columbia
• Arlington County
• Fairfax County
• Loudoun County
• Prince William County
• Spotsylvania County
• Stafford County
• Alexandria
• Fairfax City
• Falls Church
• Fredericksburg
• Manassas
• Manassas Park

The region is also under a hazardous weather outlook. Forecasters expect scattered severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts and possibly an isolated tornado.

The storms are expected to arrive in this time period:

• Mid to late afternoon for the Potomac Highlands
• Evening in Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area
• 9 p.m. to midnight for areas east of Interstate 95 to the Chesapeake Bay

Forecasters say the storms should be quick, lasting an hour or less in most places. Check your forecast by ZIP code for the exact timing of storms from the National Weather Service.

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