Tornado watch has been issued for Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson counties
Spartanburg, Greenville and Anderson counties have been placed under a tornado watch because the threat of severe storms has increased.
The National Weather Service at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport has released a statement that a tornado watch has been issued for parts of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia until 8 p.m. Friday.
The NWS said the severe weather threat expected this afternoon and evening has increased. There is an enhanced severe risk for the western portions of the area.
Earlier Friday Spartanburg County's seven school districts decided to hold classes online Friday because of the threat of strong storms.
Strong to severe storms will cross the area from west to east this afternoon through mid-evening. The main threat will be damaging wind gusts with the possibility of gusty winds as high as 40 mph. A wind advisory is in effect from 1 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday.
The temperature high is expected to be near 72. The chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible, according to the NWS.
Saturday is expected to be sunny with temperatures around 68.
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Tornado watch has been issued for Spartanburg, Greenville counties
