Severe Thunderstorm Warning Till 3:30 PM

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northwestern Howard County in central Maryland...
  Montgomery County in central Maryland...
  Southeastern Frederick County in north central Maryland...
  Northeastern Loudoun County in northern Virginia...

* Until 330 PM EDT.

* At 256 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
  extending from near Ballenger Creek to near Lansdowne, moving east
  at 50 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Damaging winds will cause some trees and large branches
           to fall. This could injure those outdoors, as well as
           damage homes and vehicles. Roadways may become blocked by
           downed trees. Localized power outages are possible.
           Unsecured light objects may become projectiles.

* Locations impacted include...
  Germantown, Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Leesburg, Olney,
  Damascus, Lansdowne, Poolesville, Aspen Hill, Potomac, North
  Bethesda, Montgomery Village, North Potomac, Ballenger Creek,
  Redland, Chevy Chase, North Kensington, South Kensington and North
  Chevy Chase.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly
from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the
basement or small central room in a sturdy structure.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground
lightning is occurring with these storms. Move indoors immediately.
Lightning is one of nature`s leading killers. Remember, if you can
hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.


By The National Weather Service.