Tornado Watch in Effect Today: Live Radar Updates, Impact Zones & Urgent Safety Tips

Residents across the Mid-Atlantic and portions of the Carolinas are on alert this evening as the National Weather Service (NWS) has placed millions of people under a Tornado Watch until midnight. The watch box stretches from coastal Delaware through Washington, D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and Virginia, with additional severe-weather watches in both North and South Carolina. What the Tornado Watch Means A Tornado Watch signals that atmospheric conditions are favorable for tornado development. It does not guarantee a tornado will form, but anyone in or near the watch area should be ready to act quickly if warnings are issued. Key Threats Through Tonight • Isolated tornadoes, especially in storms tracking along warm frontal boundaries. • Damaging straight-line winds up to 65 mph that could take down trees and power lines. • Large hail up to quarter size. • Flash flooding where storms repeatedly pass over the same locations, with a flood watch now covering 16 New Jersey counties. Timing and Storm Evolution Meteorologists expect scattered supercells to blossom in the late-afternoon instability between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. EDT. After sunset, a line of thunderstorms racing eastward along a potent cold front could maintain a tornado risk into the overnight hours—an especially dangerous scenario when people are less likely to receive alerts. Counties Currently Included • District of Columbia (entire city) • Maryland: Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, plus 10 additional counties west of the Chesapeake Bay • New Jersey: Mercer, Monmouth, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Atlantic, Cape May, Ocean • Pennsylvania: Philadelphia metro south to Lancaster and York counties • Virginia: Richmond metro east toward Hampton Roads and the Tidewater region • Carolinas: Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) and surrounding Piedmont counties under a parallel Severe Thunderstorm Watch that also carries tornado potential Safety Checklist 1. Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts on smartphones; have NOAA Weather Radio powered and within reach. 2. Identify the nearest sturdy shelter: a basement or interior room on the lowest floor away from windows. 3. Prepare an emergency kit with flashlight, batteries, medications and hard-copy contact list. 4. If driving and a Tornado Warning is issued, never shelter under an overpass; seek a substantial building or lie flat in a low spot. 5. Keep devices charged; widespread power outages are possible. Expert Insight “Nights like this feature strong wind shear and an approaching cold front—classic ingredients for brief but dangerous tornadoes,” explained the NWS Storm Prediction Center in its evening mesoscale discussion. “People from the Delaware Valley to the Carolinas should monitor warnings with extra vigilance.” Travel and Event Impacts Airlines at Philadelphia International, Baltimore-Washington International and Newark Liberty report ground stops and potential delays. Outdoor high-school graduations across New Jersey and Maryland have been postponed to Saturday. Amtrak has issued a speed restriction between Washington and New York; travelers should anticipate residual delays overnight. When Will the Risk End? Forecasters expect the severe threat to migrate offshore shortly after midnight for New Jersey and by 3 a.m. for eastern North Carolina. Cooler, less humid air will sweep in behind the front, providing a calm and sunny Saturday for most areas. Stay Weather-Aware Monitor local TV, radio or trusted weather apps, and follow your regional NWS office on social media for real-time warning updates. Remember: during a Tornado Watch, readiness is everything—act decisively if a Tornado Warning is issued to protect life and property.