Hail, Tornado Possible With Afternoon Thunderstorms: NWS

The National Weather Service updated its hazardous weather outlooks for the Hudson Valley on Wednesday. Hail and even an isolated tornado could be in store.

For Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties, the NWS said "Thunderstorms, mainly this afternoon and evening, may be capable of producing damaging winds, large hail and isolated flash flooding."

For Dutchess and Ulster counties, the NWS said, "The main threat is damaging winds, although large hail and even an isolated tornado is also possible. Locally heavy rainfall associated with downpours from thunderstorms could lead to minor flooding of low lying, urban and poor drainage areas, especially this afternoon and evening. Isolated flash flooding is possible, mainly where thunderstorms repeatedly move across the same areas.

The late-day commute in New York City is likely to be a mess, said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist.

"Major highways that will be in the path of the storms with blinding downpours, vivid lightning, gusty winds and even hail include Interstates 80, 84, 87, 91 and 93," he said.

Isolated wind gusts with some of the storms in the Midwest and Northeast are forecast to be in the neighborhood of 70 mph.

Here's an hourly look at the forecast: