Tornado Watch and Severe Storms Threaten Washington, D.C. Region
A Tornado Watch is in effect for Stafford, Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland until 10:00 PM EDT on Thursday, August 20, 2026. Severe thunderstorms are expected to develop across the region, with the highest risk of severe weather near and east of Interstate 95. The National Weather Service has issued a Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe storms in these areas, while areas to the west are under a Level 1 risk. The storms may bring damaging winds, heavy rain, and isolated tornadoes, particularly in areas such as Lexington Park, Leonardtown, and California, MD. [Source time: 2026-08-20T14:34:24+00:00]