Severe Thunderstorms This Afternoon - FOX 21/27 WFXR Roanoke/WWCW Lynchburg News, Weather

2 p.m. update:

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 8 p.m. for the entire area.

Showers and storms continue to move through the region producing some areas of heavy rain and occasionally gusty winds. Where the rain has moved through, temperatures have dropped a good 10 to 15 degrees at least temporarily stabilizing the atmosphere.

Activity into West Virginia continues to weaken as it moves closer to Virginia. The potential will still be there for more intense storms to form or others to re-intensify. Right now, things looking slightly better for us, but we still have to watch closely.

1 p.m. update:

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 8 p.m. for the entire area.

Non-severe showers and storms continue across the New River Valley. New showers and storms have popped up along the mountains along the Va/WV border. These storms will track to the east and southeast this afternoon. Some may still become severe with damaging wind possible.

The large cluster of storms in the Ohio Valley has taken a bit of a southward turn. We will be monitoring to see if this is temporary. If the more southward route continues then these storms would miss us to the west. If this is just a temporary turn and the southeastward motion continues, then we will have to watch for this to affect parts of the area.

As of 11:30 a.m., non-severe thunderstorms have formed in the area. A few wind gusts to 40 mph are possible with these. The strongest are in the I-77 corridor with showers in the Roanoke Valley and a few in the Highlands as well. Strengthening of these storms is possible over the next couple of hours.

Looking ahead for the remainder of the afternoon, we are watching a thunderstorm complex in the Ohio Valley. If these are able to organize more this afternoon then widespread severe winds will be possible. Currently, these storms, especially the eastern side that would affect us, seem to be going through a weakening phase, but that very much could change this afternoon.