Tornado watch issued for New Haven area ahead of evening storms

The New York City office of the National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for the city and Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Hudson and Union counties. It’ll move out in time for Saturday – which will be warm but less humid.

Friday’s potentially severe weather appears to be the only blemish on the forecast for the Fourth of July weekend.

Strong thunderstorms are expected later today in advance of a cold front.

The storms are expected to develop during the afternoon and forecasters say they could pack strong winds. The NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has issued severe weather watches for many parts of the northeast.

Primary threats include tornadoes, possible scattered, damaging wind gusts to 70 miles per hour, and possible isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter. It called for a gradual clearing overnight.

Hammer said the best chance for rain is toward Friday evening, and some of it could be heavy.

Unlimited sunshine will make for a very bright Sunday, with highs in the middle 80s.