BREAKING: Tornado Watch issued for DC

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Washington, D.C. and the surrounding counties in anticipation of severe storms forecast for later tonight.  The alert, issued by the weather service at 8:09pm, was sent out across D.C.'s emergency alert system twenty minutes later.

D.C.'s emergency management agency has said the watch will be in effect from 10pm tonight until 3am tomorrow morning.  This is in addition to the Special Weather Statement issued by the National Weather Service earlier this afternoon which warned of the possibility of storms with potentially damaging winds striking the city as late as 4pm Wednesday.

A tornado watch, unlike a tornado warning, is a bulletin advising the public that the conditions amicable for the appearance of tornadoes exist.  Warnings are issued in the event that a tornado's existence is confirms.

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