5 things you need to know about tonight's severe thunderstorm watch
- A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for a large swath of the region until 10 p.m., meaning conditions are favorable for storms packing destructive winds over 60 mph and hail the size of quarters.
- This isn't a warning—a watch means to stay alert and have a plan to shelter, not that severe weather is happening right now, so keep your phone's alerts on and avoid outdoor activities.
- The main threats in the watch area include sudden cloud-to-ground lightning, flash flooding in low-lying areas, and possible isolated tornadoes, especially along the cold front moving through.
- Key cities under the severe thunderstorm watch include Poughkeepsie, Hartford, and Springfield, with the highest risk from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. as the line of storms pushes eastward.
- Safety tip: if you hear thunder, get inside a sturdy building immediately—no parking garages or picnic shelters—and have a flashlight handy in case of power outages from fallen trees and wires.