Severe thunderstorm watch issued for all of N.J.

Some storms that develop Monday afternoon or evening could contain damaging winds, the National Weather Service said. Watch video

If you live or work in New Jersey or in the nearby cities, keep your eye on the sky Monday afternoon and evening.

Stormy weather is heading in this direction, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a severe thunderstorm watch for all 21 counties across the Garden State, as well as New York City and Philadelphia.

The watch is effective until 8 p.m. Monday.

During the next few hours, showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop in Pennsylvania and move across parts of New Jersey ahead of a cold front, the weather service said.

"If these storms maintain their intensity by the time they reach the I-95 corridor late this afternoon or this evening, they could contain locally damaging winds," the weather service noted in its watch advisory. Hail, frequent lightning and heavy downpours are also possible.

N.J. driver electrocuted by downed wires

UPDATE: A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for southern sections of Hunterdon County until 4:15 p.m. Monday, and a severe thunderstorm warning is active for parts of Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties until 4:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service said a severe storm is heading toward those counties and it could pack wind gusts as strong as 60 mph, along with penny-size hail. "Expect damage to roofs, siding and trees," the weather service said in its thunderstorm warning.

As severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Somerset County, northern Middlesex County and southeastern Morris County until 4:45 p.m., and a warning has been issued for Hudson and Union counties until 5:15 p.m.

Last Thursday, a line of strong thunderstorms brought damaging winds to parts of Warren, Sussex, Morris, Essex and Union counties, knocking down large trees, causing power outages and spawning a low-level tornado.

The tornado swept through Warren County, causing widespread damage to a barn and other structures on a farm in White Township.

A survey team from the weather service that inspected the damage determined the wind speeds in the small tornado were about 75 mph.

Before the stormy weather hits on Monday, New Jerseyans will have to cope with yet another steamy day with high humidity and temperatures in the low to mid-90s.

Here's a look at the storms that are rolling through Allentown, PA, at this hour, heading toward western New Jersey.

How is anyone driving in this? #Allentown #LehighValley #Weather pic.twitter.com/8aLqVKCY4Y

-- Sarah Cassi (@SarahCassi) July 18, 2016

Storm rolling into Downtown #Allentown #weather #lehighvalley pic.twitter.com/PEX2RzdM61

-- Sarah Cassi (@SarahCassi) July 18, 2016

 

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.