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

The tornado watch was issued at 3:10 p.m. Thursday and is set to be in effect until 9 p.m.

According to the NWS office in Wakefield, a line of showers with embedded thunderstorms is likely  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.