Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 9pm for RVA

Damaging winds are the greatest risk

3pm Friday, June 12, 2026

Colleagues at the Storm Prediction Center have included the area enclosed in the blue lines in a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 9pm Friday evening.

At 3pm, there was no immediate threat to metro Richmond. However, the high heat and humidity have started to develop thunderstorms several dozen miles to the west and northwest, and additional development is expected in the coming hours.

The biggest threat is from straight-line winds gusting near 70 mph.

Storms will be approaching from the west-northwest over the coming several hours, with the most likely window for impact in Richmond between 6-9pm.

Remember a Watch means conditions are increasingly favorable for damaging thunderstorms. If a Warning is issued, it means damaging thunderstorms have been detected by radar or observed, and it is best to get inside as soon as possible, away from windows.

The 90-second video below explains what qualifies as a Severe Thunderstorm.