Virginia could have strong to severe storms Thursday and Friday

An approaching low pressure storm system with a history of producing severe wind and hail damage to our west is approaching the Eastern U.S. Thursday. This system is causing winds to return from the south in the Commonwealth, which is transporting low-level moisture back into the Mid-Atlantic after it was swept well to our south earlier this week from a strong cold front. This moisture will serve as fuel for scattered shower and thunderstorm development Thursday and Friday, mainly during the most unstable part of the day in the warm afternoon and early evening hours. Although this storm system is not going to produce a constant, soaking rain for the entire area (which we do need), those of you who do receive the storms could have locally heavy rainfall, damaging wind gusts and severe hail, and a lot of lightning. Those severe threats are exactly what this storm system has a history of producing. Check out all of the wind and hail reports from Wednesday into the overnight to our west and south:

The Slight Risk area for severe thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and evening covers nearly all of Virginia:

The severe threat on Friday is less certain, as there may not be as great of instability to develop for severe storms. However, the same threats of damaging winds and hail are possible tomorrow. Here is the slight risk map for Friday:

I do want to emphasize, though, that even if these storms do not strengthen enough to warrant a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, they can still produce dangerous, frequent lightning and torrential downpours that can lead to flash flooding of low-lying areas. Move indoors to safety and allow these thunderstorms to pass before resuming any outdoor activities.

You can "Like" Meteorologist Carrie Rose and Chief Meteorologist Zach Daniel on our Facebook pages to receive frequent updates on the severe weather threat today. Join the weather conversation!

Stay with CBS 6, we'll keep you ahead of the storm.
--Meteorologist Carrie Rose

A Few Strong to Severe Storms Possible Thursday

Low level moisture will return to the area on Thursday, and with an upper-level disturbance approaching from the west, much of the state will see conditions somewhat favorable for a few strong to severe thunderstorms. The primary threats will be strong straight-line winds and large hail. Temperatures will remain on the mild side for the middle of June, helping to limit the number and intensity of severe storms. Meteorologist Carrie Rose will have the latest on CBS 6 News Thursday morning, and I'll be covering whatever storms develop in the afternoon. Stay With CBS 6, We'll Keep You Ahead of the Storm. -Zach

A Severe T-Storm Watch is in effect until 8PM

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 8PM for nearly the entire state of Virginia, as well as most of the Mid-Atlantic states. Here are the affected Virginia counties highlighted in Yellow on this map:

Thunderstorms are developing and strengthening in western parts of the state as of early afternoon, and will continue to advance into central Virginia through the afternoon and evening. Threats from these storms will include damaging wind gusts to 70 mph, some hail up to 1.5" in diameter (that's about the size of a ping-pong ball), frequent lightning, and torrential downpours that can produce localized flooding, especially ponding on roadways. This development today is occurring ahead of an approaching cold front from the northwest. In Virginia ahead of that front, ample low-level moisture is present as well as peak daytime heating to support instability and storm initiation and intensification. The wind environment from the ground up is not conducive for rotation in these storms (ie, no tornado threat), but rather the threat for damaging straight-line winds from down-bursts out of the strongest storms. Stay with CBS6, we'll keep you ahead of the storm. --Meteorologist Carrie Rose