Virginia has a Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms Friday

The same storm system that has produced widespread severe weather from the Plains through the Midwest into the Eastern US this week will bring central Virginia an opportunity for severe thunderstorms Friday afternoon and early evening. Once we reach the peak afternoon heating, clusters of strong to potentially severe thunderstorms should track through central Virginia. These storms will be capable of frequent lightning, damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 mph, heavy downpours, and large hail.

Intensity of the storms should heighten between 5-7PM, just as they are passing through the Richmond Metro Area. All thunderstorm activity will exit to the northeast by 9PM. After the locally heavy rainfall, overnight fog will likely develop in central Virginia for early Saturday morning. If you're planning to hit the road early Saturday morning for the long holiday weekend, please be prepared for that and use extra caution.

We will be providing frequent updates on air and online as necessary this afternoon and evening with the severe threat. Stay with CBS 6, we'll keep you ahead of the storm.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for nearly all of Virginia

A new Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for all of central Virginia until 8 PM, extending past this morning's watch for southwest Virginia (which remains in effect until 5 PM). Threats from any severe storms this afternoon and early evening will include damaging wind gusts to 70 mph, large hail the size of ping pong balls, and frequent lightning.

The severe threat in Virginia is part of a broad system that will likely produce a significant severe outbreak, particularly in the nation's heartland. Here is the updated severe risk map for the eastern U.S., with a continued rare High Risk over parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas.

We will be closely monitoring our severe threat this afternoon and evening. Stay with CBS 6, we'll keep you ahead of the storm.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for part of Virginia

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 5 PM for southwest Virginia into Buckingham, Appomattox, and Charlotte Counties. Threats from any severe storms that develop include damaging wind gusts to 70 mph and large hail up to 1.5" in diameter (ping pong size).

Watches may be issued into the rest of central Virginia as the day and evening progresses because we, like a large chunk of the country, are under a slight risk for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. It will be very hot into the upper 80s and low 90s this afternoon, and humid as well. Here's the map with the Slight Risk in yellow, a Moderate Risk in orange, and a rare High Risk in red over the heart of Tornado Alley (Oklahoma and Kansas):

It's the orange and red areas in the Heartland that have the potential for a significant tornado outbreak this afternoon and evening. Unfortunately, this covers some of the same areas that were hard-hit this weekend and yesterday with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes...including devastated Joplin, Missouri from Sunday. Stay with CBS 6, we'll keep you ahead of the storm.