SEATTLE — Thunderstorms and hail are forecasted in western Washington Wednesday evening, which could damage cars and other property.

There’s up to a 15-29% chance of severe hail that is greater than one inch in diameter and a 10% chance of hail that’s over two inches in diameter, according to the National Weather Service. The Puget Sound area from Everett southward has the highest chances of hail. The rest of western Washington has lower chances.

Depending on how bad the hailstorm is, it could put dents in your car, shatter glass, or chip the paint, according to Kelley Blue Book.

There are several steps you can take to protect your car during Wednesday night’s storm.

First, if you have access to covered parking, use it. That could either be in a garage, carport, or under a parking deck. Parking under a tree can also help slow the speed of the hail and shelter your car. However, tree limbs could snap off in windy weather, so be cautious if the wind is really blowing.

If you have to leave your car out in the open, there are steps you can take to protect it from hail.

Some companies sell hail covers, which can be multiple layers thick or inflatable, although they can be expensive and might be hard to find last-minute.

Several short-notice protection measures to try include:

• Fold in your side mirrors to protect the glass and keep it from breaking.
• Cover your car in moving blankets or a comforter. Cardboard can also work to create a barrier over the windshield. If it’s windy, tuck the blankets into the car doors to keep them from flying away.
• If you have a sunroof, lay a bag of garden soil over it to protect the window.
• Windshield covers can help protect your back windshield.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until Wednesday at 9 p.m. for several western Washington counties, including King, Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania. 

The storm is expected to move Wednesday through western Washington from south to north. Storms are anticipated to hit the Seattle metro area and southward between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Areas north of that can expect to see storms between 7 and 9 p.m. The storm is expected to move into Canada around midnight.