'Severe' Thunderstorm Watch In Place For Sussex County, 70 MPH Winds Possible.

If you are at the beach or at a graduation Tuesday afternoon or evening, be prepared to move indoors: A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued by the National Weather Service.

The watch, which covers 17 counties, is in place from now until 7 p.m., the service says.

The watch means showers and thunderstorms are likely and could bring damaging wind gusts and hail, in addition to rain, according to the service. There is a potential in some areas for a few tornadoes, though in New Jersey, they are rare.

Forecasters and law enforcement officials say the winds could reach 50 to 70 mph.

The counties covered under the watch are Ocean, Atlantic, Gloucester. Burlington, Monmouth, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Morris, Warren, Sussex, Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Union and Camden.

In Sussex County, showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 5 p.m. That may cool things down slightly after the temperature hits a high of 94 degrees. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds. Southwest wind around 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent, the service says.