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The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for the local area, including the cities of Franklin and Suffolk and the counties of Isle of Wight, Southampton and Surry.

The tornado watch was issued at 2:25 p.m. Thursday and is set to be in effect until 8 p.m.

According to the NWS office in Wakefield, a line of showers with embedded thunderstorms are likely ahead of a cold front this afternoon and evening. Damaging wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph will be possible in the strongest storms, and an isolated tornado may be possible.

A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for the formation of a tornado. If a tornado warning is issued, that means a tornado has been spotted or indicated on radar. During a tornado warning, get into an interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy building, away from corners, windows, doors and outside walls. Do not open windows.

Those in a mobile home or vehicle should attempt to get into a sturdy building before the storm arrives.