Tornado watch for Lehigh Valley as front expected to trigger severe weather

A tornado watch has been issued for most of Pennsylvania, including the Lehigh Valley, through Tuesday night.

The watch is in effect until 11 p.m. and includes Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Carbon, Monroe and Schuylkill counties, according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorologists say an approaching cold front will trigger thunderstorms across the region. Some of these could be severe with damaging winds.

The storms may be capable of producing heavy rain leading localized flooding, primarily in poor drainage areas, according to the weather service.

Eastern Pennsylvania Weather Authority meteorologist Bobby Matrich, in a tweet, said the highest tornado threat is likely along the Pennsylvania/New York border.

Earlier Tuesday, the National Weather Service posted a hazardous weather outlook warning of the likelihood of severe weather.

Here is the extended forecast from the National Weather Service:

Tuesday Afternoon

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds and heavy rain. Cloudy, with a high near 80. Southwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday Night

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 2am, then a slight chance of showers. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds and heavy rain. Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday

Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Calm wind.

Thursday

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Sunday

Partly sunny, with a high near 76.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.