National Weather Service issues severe thunderstorm warning in Shenandoah Valley, watch in Virginia cities, counties

UPDATE: Severe Thunderstorm Warning in effect until 4:15 p.m. At 3:31, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Stuarts Draft to near Cornwall, moving southeast at 65 mph.

HAZARD: 60 mph wind gusts

SOURCE: Radar indicated.

IMPACT: Damaging winds will cause some trees and large branches to fall. This could injure those outdoors, as well as damage homes and vehicles. Roadways may become blocked by downed trees. Localized power outages are possible. Unsecured light objects may become projectiles.

Locations impacted include: Staunton, Waynesboro, Stuarts Draft, Crozet, Sherando, Wintergreen, Montebello, Afton, Fishersville, Lyndhurst, Nellysford, Ivy, Greenville, Middlebrook, Hermitage, Yancey Mills, Tyro, Jonesboro, Afton Mountain, and Massies Mill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.

National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch in effect until 10:15 p.m. Wednesday for Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro.

The watch is in effect for 31 counties in Virginia. The main hazard is damaging wind gusts.

The animated map below shows recent activity. Refresh the story to see the latest version.

A hazardous weather outlook is also in effect for portions of eastern West Virginia, northern and central Virginia, and central and western Maryland.

A heat advisory is in effect for the entire outlook area aside from Hampshire, Hardy, Augusta and Nelson counties until 8 p.m. this evening.

National Weather Service forecast for Staunton

Wednesday

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 93. Southwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday night

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Patchy fog after 3 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. West wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday

Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 10 a.m. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. North wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Thursday night

Scattered thunderstorms, mainly before 7 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Friday night

A chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday

A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday Night

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Monday night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday night

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.

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This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: National Weather Service issues severe thunderstorm warning in Shenandoah Valley, watch in Virginia cities, counties