Howard County has been issued a tornado watch by the National Weather Service.
The watch includes Howard, Baltimore and Harford Counties as well as Baltimore City.
The caution is in effect until 9 p.m.
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According to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, a tornado watch means "conditions are favorable for a tornado to occur."
If the alert moves to a tornado warning, then "a tornado has been spotted or detected on weather radar and could be coming your way," said MEMA.
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In the event of a tornado warning, MEMA advises staying inside and going to a basement or place where there aren't windows; if you're outside, MEMA said to lie flat in a ditch or low area.
10 p.m. update
The tornado watch has expired.
Heavy downpours are still moving through the area, and the National Weather Service advised that the storms could lead to flash flooding in central Maryland and parts of Virginia.
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