The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for several Ohio counties, including two counties in central Ohio.
The weather service issued the severe thunderstorm watch on Sept. 3 for Delaware and Licking counties. The watch is in effect until 10 p.m., according to the weather service.
Several other Ohio counties are also under the watch, including Muskingum, Perry, Morrow, and Knox counties.
What is a severe thunderstorm watch?
The weather service issues a severe thunderstorm watch when "conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area." A severe thunderstorm, by definition, is a thunderstorm that produces one-inch hail or large in diameter and/or winds that exceed 58 miles an hour.
They are usually
issued for a duration of 4 to 8 hours. They are normally issued well in advance of the actual occurrence of severe weather. During the watch, people should review severe thunderstorm safety rules and be prepared to move a place of safety if threatening weather approaches.
Tips for staying safe during thunderstorms
- Once inside a shelter, stay away from windows and avoid using electrical equipment or plumbing.
- Keep a battery-powered weather radio nearby in case of power loss.
- Secure loose objects outside, as they can become dangerous during high winds.
- Bring pets inside, and if time allows, make sure fences are secure to prevent pets from escaping or running away.
This is a breaking news story. Check back at Dispatch.com for more updates.
Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: NWS issues severe thunderstorm watch Sept. 3 for Delaware, Licking counties
