70-MPH Gusts Possible In Burlington Co. Amid Severe Thunderstorm Watch

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Officials placed Burlington County under a severe thunderstorm watch Tuesday afternoon, with heavy storms potentially impacting the region into the evening.

The thunderstorm watch includes New Jersey's 10 southernmost counties and remains valid until 9 p.m. Tuesday. Scattered gusts could reach up to 70 mph, said the National Weather Service (NWS). Frequent lightning and isolated hail as big as ping pong balls are also possible, the agency says.

The watch area extends as far south as North Carolina.

Here's the NWS's latest forecast for Burlington County:

• Tuesday afternoon: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. Some storms could be severe, with large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Tuesday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Some storms could be severe, with large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rain. Patchy fog after 1 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 85. North wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
• Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.