The 2001 tornado that hit D.C. Image courtesy of NOAA.

Update: The watch has been called off for D.C. and the region, except southern Maryland.

Original post

A tornado watch has been issued for the entire D.C. region until 5 p.m. This does not mean a tornado has been spotted, just that weather conditions are favorable to produce one.

“A cold front will move across the area through the early afternoon,” according to an alert from the National Weather Service. “Showers and isolated thunderstorms could produce locally damaging wind gusts. The main threat area looks to be focused east from the interstate 95 corridor during the afternoon.”

A separate alert warns, “The primary threat is still damaging straight line winds with a threat for tornadoes increasing southeast from Washington, D.C.” Gusts of up to 75 MPH are possible.

Areas in red are under the watch.

Via NWS.