Sixteen counties in New Jersey have been placed under a severe thunderstorm watch Tuesday because of the threat of scattered storms that could become severe with flooding downpours, frequent lightning and damaging wind gusts as strong as 70 mph.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for all of southeastern Pennsylvania, including the Lehigh Valley, until 9 p.m. The weather service’s forecast office in Mount Holly,

On Tuesday at 1:01 p.m. the National Weather Service released a severe thunderstorm watch in effect until 9 p.m. for Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia counties.