Federal workers have been authorized to leave work early as severe weather is expected to hit the Washington, D.C., area and parts of the Northeast region of the country. 

In a news release Monday, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) said federal employees located in the D.C. area were authorized to leave their workplaces two hours earlier than expected, and that all employees must evacuate their buildings “no later than 3:00 at which time Federal offices are closed.”

Telework employees are also expected to receive weather and safety leave for the amount required for them to commute back home, as remote workers “are expected to continue working and generally may not receive weather and safety leave.” 

The OPM added that emergency federal employees are expected to remain at their worksite unless otherwise directed by their employer. 

This follows as the National Weather Service (NWS) declared a tornado watch for D.C. and parts of the southeastern region of the country Monday. The NWS said widespread storms with strong winds, hail and tornadoes are likely to happen throughout the day across parts of the mid-Atlantic region. 

Parts of Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky are under the tornado watch.

“A very favorable setup for severe thunderstorms including tornadoes and widespread damaging winds is unfolding across the region, with severe storms expected to steadily develop and increase across the region this afternoon,” the Weather Service wrote in a statement, according to The Washington Post.