The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued a Tornado Watch in effect Friday night through early Saturday morning, covering Middle and Eastern Tennessee as well as far Southwest Virginia. The watch is active from 8:35 PM until 3:00 AM CDT.

Forecasters warn that the storm system has the potential to produce a few tornadoes, with a couple of those potentially intense. Damaging wind gusts of up to 75 mph are possible, along with large hail up to 2 inches in diameter in some areas.

Residents in the affected region are urged to stay weather aware, review safety plans, and have a way to receive warnings overnight, especially since the threat will extend well past midnight.

Get continuous weather updates from your local stations: 105.7 The Hog, Spirit 101.9, 94.1 The Vibe (1410 AM), 98.9 The Wolf, and 93.3 The Ranch (580 AM).