A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for most of the outlook area except for King Georges County, Virginia and Saint Marys County, Maryland until 7 PM. Scattered thunderstorms may produce damaging wind gusts and large hail this afternoon through this evening.
In addition, thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall that leads to isolated instances of flooding.
A watch does not necessarily mean that severe weather is actually occurring, only that atmospheric conditions have created a significant risk for severe weather to occur. If severe weather actually does occur, a severe thunderstorm warning or tornado warning will be issued, and urgent action should be taken immediately.
While a severe thunderstorm watch does not imply in its name the risk for tornadoes, the risk for tornadoes in such a scenario is not necessarily zero as severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do spawn tornadoes even after only a severe thunderstorm watch has been issued.