WAKEFIELD

The National Weather Service’s Wakefield station has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the city of Franklin, Southampton County and parts of Isle of Wight County, which will remain in effect until 5:45 p.m. The NWS had previously issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the aforementioned areas, which will be in effect through 10 p.m. tonight.

According to the NWS, severe thunderstorms were located at 4:55 p.m. along a line extending from Hunterdale to near Powellsville, North Carolina, moving east at 55 mph. This is projected to hit Windsor, Virginia around 5:10 p.m. and downtown Suffolk around 5:20 p.m. Hazards include 70 mph winds and penny-sized hail.

The NWS is advising area residents to expect considerable tree damage, stating that the damage is particularly likely to impact mobile homes, roofs and outbuildings. The NWS further advises residents to move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.

Earlier today, the NWS forecasted these storms to move into Isle of Wight County sometime after 6 p.m. The greatest threat in terms of potential impacts is projected to be from damaging wind gusts, which can down trees and power lines, but large hail (up to the size of quarters or larger), localized flash flooding and an isolated tornado are possible. Deadly cloud-to-ground lightning is also expected.