Tornado Watch Issued In Eastern PA

A tornado watch was issued in the greater Philadelphia area and throughout Pennsylvania on Tuesday afternoon, as the string of bizarre weather whipping through the area continues.

The watch was declared by the National Weather Service at 1:50 p.m. and will continue until 10 p.m. Tuesday evening. It means that "conditions are favorable" for a tornado to develop in the area, though an event is not neccessarily imminent. The watch covers Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties, as well as most of the state and some of New Jersey.

The forecast calls for a chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday, with the possibility of severe storms in certain areas. Damaging winds, hail, and heavy rain are forecasted, with a chance of preciptiation at 40 percent.

Strange weather, including hail and tornadoes, has been mingled between days of sunshine and warmth over the past two weeks. A tornado threatened central Chester County last Thursday, and even touched down in Bucks County the week before that.

According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, the state has already seen 19 tornadoes land in 2019, which is more than the average for an entire year.

Tuesday's tornado watch stretches across nearly the entire state of Pennsylvania, and includes a few counties in Ohio as well as about half of New Jersey.

During a tornado watch, you should keep a look out for dark, rotating clouds, experts say. If you see that, take shelter immediately.

Here's the full forecast for the rest of the week, according to NWS:

• Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some storms could be severe, with hail, damaging winds, gusty winds, and heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. 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, mainly before 2am. Some storms could be severe, with hail, damaging winds, gusty winds, and heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. West wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Wednesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. West wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Wednesday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. West wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. West wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. 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 before 8pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.