A tornado watch is in effect for counties until 7 p.m. in Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton and Schuylkill counties, as well as other counties in the Eastern region of Pennsylvania.

A watch is issued by the National Weather Service when conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in and close to the watch area. People should review tornado safety rules and be prepared to move a place of safety if threatening weather approaches.

Showers and thunderstorms are forecast this afternoon, mainly after 4 p.m. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds.

The high temperature will be near 80. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight there’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7 p.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.