Statewide Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued In Pennsylvania

More than 55 counties in Pennsylvania are under a severe thunderstorm watch through Monday night. The Weather Channel, which says the storms will do little to quell the extreme heat, could bring high winds and heavy rains throughout the region.

"Thunderstorms will sweep across New England and the mid-Atlantic into Monday evening, and the strongest storms can bring damaging winds and torrential downpours," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Andy Mussoline said in an AccuWeather release.

In addition to the threat of damaging winds, travelers should brace themselves for possible airport delays. Check your flight status before leaving for the major airports impacted by the weather, including Philadelphia and New York City-area airports, the Weather Channel advises.

The downpours will reduce visibility and force outdoor activities indoors but will provide needed rainfall as drought continues to plague a large part of the region, according to AccuWeather.

The NWS also issued excessive heat warnings across the state, where temperatures could approach 100 degrees on Monday and Tuesday.

The severe thunderstorm watch impacts the following counties in the Philadelphia region: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia.

Additionally, the following counties, which span across the state, are under the watch:

• ADAMS
• ARMSTRONG
• BEDFORD
• BERKS
• BLAIR
• BRADFORD
• CAMBRIA
• CAMERON
• CARBON
• CENTRE
• CHESTER
• CLARION
• CLEARFIELD
• CLINTON
• COLUMBIA
• CUMBERLAND
• DAUPHIN
• ELK
• FAYETTE
• FOREST
• FRANKLIN
• FULTON
• HUNTINGDON
• INDIANA
• JEFFERSON
• JUNIATA
• LACKAWANNA
• LANCASTER
• LEBANON
• LEHIGH
• LUZERNE
• LYCOMING
• MCKEAN
• MIFFLIN
• MONROE
• MONTOUR
• NORTHAMPTON
• NORTHUMBERLAND
• PERRY
• PIKE
• POTTER
• SCHUYLKILL
• SNYDER
• SOMERSET
• SULLIVAN
• SUSQUEHANNA
• TIOGA
• UNION
• WARREN
• WAYNE
• WESTMORELAND
• WYOMING
• YORK