Tornado watch issued until 9 p.m. for D.C. area; widespread damaging winds possible
The National Weather Service has a declared a rare Level 4 of 5 risk for the area, the first since 2013.
What to know
Widespread storms with the potential for damaging winds, tornadoes, hail, torrential rain and frequent lightning are expected between 4 and 8 p.m. — with the Beltway area most at risk between 5 and 7:30 p.m. The National Weather Service has issued a Level 4 out of 5 risk for severe storms for the first time in about a decade.
A tornado watch is in effect until 9 p.m. A watch means ingredients are in place for severe storms with destructive winds and possibly tornadoes, but that’s not a guarantee and you should stay alert. If a warning for a tornado or a destructive thunderstorm is issued for your location, you should shelter in an interior room, away from windows, at the lowest level of a strong building.
Power outages are likely; charge devices and secure or bring inside loose outdoor items ahead of the storms. Avoid travel during the storms.
OK, first time in 10 years. Be prepared.
= new reply since forum marked as read
I haven't turned any of my weather radios on, but I think I know what they're going to be doing.
Rerun from a few days ago:
Fri Jul 28, 2023: The hazard alerts just went off on my Eton FR370 weather radio.
As hard of hearing as I am, I had no problem hearing them go off.
Thunderstorms are a-comin'.
It's a discontinued model.
This is a Russian link:
L.L.Bean ETON American Red Cross Radio Emergency Camping Solarlink FR370 Prepper
This is a link to a dealer in the United States:
Eton FR370 AM/FM/WX Emergency Radio
It looks like this, but it's silver-gray, and it doesn't have the American Red Cross logo:
In other words, like the one on the Russian site:
https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/OGgAAOSwLDVhP~p2/$_12.JPG
https://manualzz.com/doc/en/2441083/eton-fr370
Remember Mark Trail:
Source: Mark Trail champions the NOAA Weather Radio, at NOAA Weather Radio All-Hazards
Extra super bonus: even if you don't have a weather radio or a scanner app on your phone, there was a DU post a while back that linked to this site where ...
Tue Mar 29, 2022: For Anyone Interested.
websdr.org
Next, if you want to get your own radio receiver on the cheap; you can purchase an SDR kit for under $50. Though $70 would be better spent. ...and the software is free. This is a fair bit more technical, mostly on initial setup, but there are guides available.
I'd post some links but I don't want to get this posted removed for commercial SPAM. Just search for "sdr dongle kit" with your favorite search engine.
Be warned, this rabbit hole is very, very, deep. You'll be looking into building your own antennas in no time.
So go to that site, and look for
http://websdr.us:8902/
FM18KS; 8 users
who is, today, member number 107. It varies from day to day.
The audio should open up to Manassas NOAA weather station KHB36. Or you can hear it here:
https://www.weatherusa.net/radio