Updated: Fredericksburg Tornado Watch Canceled

Update 5:23 p.m.: The tornado watch has been canceled. 

Original Post:

A wide swath of Virginia, including Fredericksburg, is under a tornado watch until 7 p.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

"The ingredients may be there for a tornado," said meterologist Kevin Witt of the National Weather Service's Sterling office.

The National Weather Service is forecasting that severe storms will move through the Fredericksburg between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. today. These storms could bring damaging winds up to 55 miles per hour, isolated tornadoes and localized flash flooding. Rainfall of up to 1.5 inches is expected; up to 2 inches of rainfall is possible.

"As of now there are severe lines moving west to east and southwest to northeast, with some stronger than others," Witt said. "There is more potential for severe weather between 2 and 8 p.m."

If severe weather strikes during a commute home in traffic, Witt warned that the safest place to be is in a sturdy building, but if there is no time to move to a building, "stay in your car with the windows up." 

If a driver comes upon a flooded area while driving, "stop or turn around," Witt advised.

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