The National Weather Service has issued a *TORNADO WATCH* for parts of the WBRZ Weather forecast area until 7pm.

Ongoing thunderstorms will continue to organize and strengthen through the afternoon. The main threats will potentially include a few tornadoes and damaging wind gusts in excess 60mph.

As a storm system approaches from the west, it will produce more thunderstorms across our area. Instability has increased a bit this afternoon. It is expected to increase further with the addition of southeasterly winds, introducing more moisture into the evening. Because of this, the potential for severe thunderstorms will increase over the next several hours.

Scattered showers and even a few thunderstorms may continue overnight, but the severe weather threat will migrate northeastward away from the Baton Rouge area.

 Impact: A tornado, damaging wind gusts

Additional Bulletins: None.

Timing: Until later this evening.

Actions: Be alert to rapid changes in weather, have access to bulletins through the WBRZ WX app., the WBRZ Cable Weather Channel, WBRZ Weather on Facebook and @2StormView on Twitter. With both the weather app. and Twitter, you can change your cellular phone settings to allow push notifications and alerts for updates from the WBRZ Weather team. DO NOT drive any vehicle through flooded roadways. You risk stalling out and damaging your engine, or worse, being swept away. Secure light, loose outdoor objects. If you need to take shelter, bring your phone, tablet, or laptop and watch our continuous streaming coverage. You can also listen via Bluetooth in your Bluetooth enabled vehicle.

Remember: A watch means conditions are favorable for a specific hazard to develop in the future so you should have a readiness plan, a warning means a specific hazard is happening now and you need to take safety precautions immediately. The area is in a “slight” risk for severe weather—this means there is a higher chance than usual for strong thunderstorms.

Locations within the TORNADO WATCH area include the entire WBRZ viewing area.

A TORNADO WATCH means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms to produce tornadoes, winds of 58 mph or higher and/or hail 1 inch in diameter or larger, in addition to heavy rain and dangerous lightning. Those in and around the watch area should monitor weather information closely for possible warnings.