A tornado watch is in effect until 8 p.m. for a broad portion of central Virginia including the Richmond region, as well as Southside localities, the Northern Neck and Hampton Roads, the National Weather Service says.

A watch means conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in and close to the watch area, the weather service says.

(This has been a breaking weather news update. Check back for more details as they become available. An earlier update is posted below.)

There is a significant threat of severe storms across central and eastern Virginia this afternoon and evening, the National Weather Service says.

“The primary threat is for a line of damaging storms with winds in excess of 60-70 mph along with a few tornadoes,” said Jeff Orrock, meteorologist in charge of the weather service’s Wakefield office, in an email.

The tornado risk will run roughly from 2 to 8 p.m.