CHARLOTTESVILLE (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) The national weather service issued a tornado watch on Friday afternoon for 18 counties, including Charlottesville, Albemarle, Greene and Nelson. The watch is in effect until 8 p.m.

A tornado watch is issued when severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible because of weather conditions, according to the NWS website. The watch means tornadoes are possible within the designated area.

Friday’s watch includes:

ALBEMARLE            ALLEGHANY           AMHERST
APPOMATTOX           AUGUSTA             BATH
BEDFORD              BLAND               BOTETOURT
BUCKINGHAM           CAMPBELL            CARROLL
CHARLOTTE            CLARKE              CRAIG
FLOYD                FRANKLIN            FREDERICK
GILES                GRAYSON             GREENE
HALIFAX              HENRY               HIGHLAND
MADISON              MONTGOMERY          NELSON
PAGE                 PATRICK             PITTSYLVANIA
PULASKI              RAPPAHANNOCK        ROANOKE
ROCKBRIDGE           ROCKINGHAM          SHENANDOAH
SMYTH                TAZEWELL            WARREN
WYTHE

VIRGINIA INDEPENDENT CITIES INCLUDED ARE

BUENA VISTA          CHARLOTTESVILLE     COVINGTON
DANVILLE             GALAX               HARRISONBURG
LEXINGTON            LYNCHBURG           MARTINSVILLE
RADFORD              ROANOKE             SALEM
STAUNTON             WAYNESBORO          WINCHESTER