The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Isle of Wight and Surry counties through 8 p.m. tonight. The NWS previously issued a hazardous weather outlook warning of an enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms, damaging wind gusts and possible tornadoes this afternoon.

The NWS expects gusty southerly winds of 30 to 40 mph Wednesday, March 5. Thunderstorms, some of them severe and producing heavy rainfall, are expected mainly after 2 p.m. Rainfall between three-quarters and an inch is possible.

Another chance of showers and thunderstorms occurs before 10 p.m. and between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Surry County Public Schools announced on its Facebook page that its schools would dismiss early at 1:30 p.m.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 12:34 p.m. with additional information.