397  
WWUS20 KWNS 201637  
SEL4  
SPC WW 201637  
DCZ000-MDZ000-PAZ000-VAZ000-WVZ000-CWZ000-210000-  
 
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED  
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 234  
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK  
1240 PM EDT WED MAY 20 2026  
 
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A  
 
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF  
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA  
MARYLAND  
SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA  
NORTHERN VIRGINIA  
EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA  
COASTAL WATERS  
 
* EFFECTIVE THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 1240 PM  
UNTIL 800 PM EDT.  
 
* PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...  
SCATTERED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH LIKELY  
ISOLATED LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE  
 
SUMMARY...THUNDERSTORMS WILL FORM AND SPREAD EASTWARD ACROSS THE  
WATCH AREA THIS AFTERNOON IN A HOT AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS. THE  
STRONGEST CELLS WILL POSE A RISK OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND HAIL.  
 
THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 55  
STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 95 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST  
OF MARTINSBURG WV TO 45 MILES EAST OF HARRISBURG PA. FOR A COMPLETE  
DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE  
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU4).  
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...  
 
REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE  
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.  
PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING  
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE  
WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE  
TORNADOES.  
 

 
 
AVIATION...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT TO  
1 INCH. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW  
CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR  
26030.  
 
...HART  
 
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