Tornado Watch Issued for Bergen County

The National Weather Services has issued a tornado watch for Bergen County through 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The watch includes five counties in Northern and Western New Jersey, two counties in Connecticut and 10 New York counties.

The NJ Office of Emergency management said thunderstorm are forming in central Pennsylvania and are moving eastward. 

"These storms are intensifying and will be over New Jersey later this afternoon and evening," said a statement from the OEM. "Some of the storms capable of producing damaging wind gusts, large hail, and possibly a tornado as they develop and intensify."

The NJ OEM said a tornado watch is issued, "when severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area but it does not mean that they will occur."

The NWS said the safest place to be in a tornado is in a basement, under "a workbench or other piece of sturdy furniture." If there is no basement, the NWS advises people to "seek shelter on the lowest floor of the building in an interior hallway or closet."

The area is also under a hazardous weather outlook with the threat of severe thunderstorms that could possibly move through the area as a cold front comes through, according to the National Weather Service.

Below is the National Weather Service forecast for Northern New Jersey through Wednesday evening:

This Afternoon: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 3pm and 5pm. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds. Sunny early, then becoming mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. 

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 61. West wind between 6 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.