Tornado watch issued for area

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for the entire Washington D.C. area until midnight.

A tornado watch means that tornadoes are possible, but is a different from a tornado warning, which means a tornado has been sighted and there is imminent danger to people and property in the area.

Forecasters are predicting a potentially damaging line of thunderstorms rolling across the area this afternoon and evening. Fairfax County is warning that severe weather is expected here between 7 and 9 p.m. High winds and heavy rains are expected.

The county’s Ready Fairfax page is recommending that Halloween trick-or-treating be done early so that everyone is home before the storms hit. Fairfax Fire and Rescue also recommends that all outdoor Halloween decorations be secured or brought inside so that they do not become projectiles in the storm.