A flash flood watch is in effect for our region from this afternoon through late tonight.

Showers and thunderstorms will move into eastern Pennsylvania and much of New Jersey later this afternoon and this evening. Thunderstorms will be capable of heavy rainfall, and training of thunderstorms is also possible. Total rain amounts will range from 1 to 2 inches with locally higher amounts possible.

Flash flooding is possible in places where the heaviest thunderstorms persist. Rises on rivers and streams with the potential for urban, small stream, and poor drainage flooding is also possibl

A Flash Flood Watch means that there is the potential for flash flooding which can be life-threatening. Heavy rain is expected to occur over a short period of time. Rapidly rising floodwaters may quickly inundate roadways and areas of poor drainage. Streams and creeks could leave their banks, flooding nearby properties.

The latest forecast:

Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m. Some storms could be severe, with large hail, damaging winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning. Patchy fog before 9 a.m. High near 80. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Some storms could be severe, with large hail, damaging winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning. Patchy fog after 10 p.m. Low around 62. West wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. West wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. West wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.

Sunday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.