UPDATE: Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued Across Philly Region

Updated, Thursday 5:04 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm watch is in place for four Philadelphia-area counties through 9 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued the severe thunderstorm watch in Chester, Montgomery, Delaware and Philadelphia counties. Residents should be prepared to seek shelter in the event the severe storms pass through.

"As the front crosses the Appalachians on Thursday, there will be enough daytime heating to allow showers and thunderstorms to rebound in the mid-Atlantic corridor from North Carolina to southeastern New York," Accuweather says. "Some of the storms will become borderline severe with hail and damaging wind gusts.

Earlier story:

A thunderstorm and the potential for hail and damaging winds is possible in the greater Philadelphia area Thursday, with a front coming through by late morning, according to the forecasters.

The National Weather Service says that showers will arrive by around 11 a.m., with thunderstorms possible into the early afternoon and both rain and thunder growing more likely as the afternoon wears on.

The chance of storms will continue until around 8 p.m.

While southeastern Pennsylvania is only forecasted to receive less than a half an inch of rain Thursday, according to the National Weather Service, higher amounts are possible where thunderstorms hit.

"As the front crosses the Appalachians on Thursday, there will be enough daytime heating to allow showers and thunderstorms to rebound in the mid-Atlantic corridor from North Carolina to southeastern New York," Accuweather says. "Some of the storms will become borderline severe with hail and damaging wind gusts."

Southeastern Pennsylvania is within that danger zone, with Accuweather indicating "some" potential for hail and localized damaging winds of up to 60 miles per hour.

Accuweather also warned of traffic and airport impacts.

"As the storms move into a major metro area, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may issue ground stops," they said. "Motorists should be prepared for quickly changing weather conditions where dry roads can become torrents of water in minutes."

The storm will clear out by the end of the day and will clear up for Friday and Saturday, though another round of rain is forecasted to hit Sunday and Monday.

Here's the full forecast through the weekend and into next week:

Thursday

A chance of showers before 11 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Patchy fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m.. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. West wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Friday night

Mostly clear, with a low around 61. West wind around 5 mph.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 81. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.

Sunday
A chance of showers after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday night

A chance of showers before 2 a.m.. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Monday

A chance of showers after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Monday night

A chance of showers before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.

Tuesday night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.