Hagerstown, Chambersburg and nearby expected to get severe weather this afternoon
National Weather Service issues tornado watch
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for the the region — including Washington and Frederick counties in Maryland, and Franklin and Fulton counties in Pennsylvania — until 9 p.m. Monday.
A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Washington County; southeastern Franklin County; and Berkeley and Jefferson counties in West Virginia until 3 p.m. Monday.
The latter warns of wind gusts up to 60 to 70 mph and hail the size of quarters to ping-pong balls.
Severe weather expected throughout afternoon
Severe thunderstorms with high winds that could spark tornadoes could blast through the Interstate 81 corridor in Maryland and Pennsylvania this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
The biggest threat will be high winds, according to the weather service offices in Sterling, Va., and State College, Pa., which cover Washington and Franklin counties, respectively.
"Some of these winds may become locally destructive," according to the weather service's Sterling office.
The State College office warned that winds could top 60 mph, spawning "isolated, weak, brief" tornadoes.
What else is expected in this afternoon's storms?
Aside from tornadoes, both offices warned of large hail, which the weather service said could be 1 inch in diameter.
Downpours are likely, with accumulations between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. With that, there's also the possibility for flooding in some areas.
When are the storms supposed to start?
The weather service office in Sterling says the storms are likely to start before 2 p.m. and flare up throughout the day into the evening. The State College office reports that storms are likely to continue until before 1 a.m.
What should I do to prepare?
Batten down the hatches.
If you have any unsecured items in your yard, such as lawn chairs or grills, secure them or put them inside.
Also, avoid traveling during the storms. If you have to travel and you see high, standing water, do not drive through it. There's no telling what's beneath the surface. Turn around and find an alternate route.
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This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Washington, Franklin counties could see tornadoes, hail today
