WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 7 p.m. this evening for the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore regions. Frequent lightning is possible, along with hail and scattered wind gusts up to 70 mph.

The storm watch covers the District, the cities of Baltimore and Annapolis and the Northern Virginia suburbs, as well as the Maryland counties of Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's, Harford, Calvert, St. Mary's, Charles and Baltimore County.

The thunderstorm watch also covers part of North Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.