National Weather Service Issues Tornado Watch for I-95 Corridor

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for the entire Interstate 95 corridor in Northern Virginia, including Arlington County, until 10 p.m. Friday.

The service is forecasting a risk of severe thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening from eastern Georgia up to southern Pennsylvania.

In Virginia, the watch affects 59 of the state's 95 counties and more than half of its 39 independent cities.

"The main threat is damaging wind, though a few supercell thunderstorms, capable of producing tornadoes, are possible," according to the National Weather Service.

A tornado watch means that weather conditions are favorable for a tornado. A tornado warning, which has not been issued as of 3:30 p.m. Friday, means a twister has been sighted.

Thunderstorms tend to mean power outages are also on the way.

Prone to outages? Dominion Power offers these tips:

Before A Storm:

• Stock up on candles, matches, battery-operated flashights and plenty of batteries.
• Make sure your cell phone is fully charged.
• Have non-perishable food on hand.
• If you lose power, turn off all appliances in case your home experiences a power surge when electricty is restored.

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