A tornado watch is in effect for 16 counties in Central New York including Chenango, Madison, Broome, Deleware, Cortland and Otsego Counties. The National Weather Service in Binghamton issued the tornado watch, which will be in effect until 6 p.m. tonight. A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for a tornado.

Severe thunderstorms are also expected to hit the region this morning and this afternoon. A line of thunderstorms is expected to cross the region sometime before noon. A second round of thunderstorms is anticipated to cross the area between 2 and 6 p.m. Strong winds and hail are possible.

Additional warnings or watches may be issued later in the day.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BINGHAMTON HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHERN CHENANGO COUNTY UNTIL 100 PM EDT

* AT 1206 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A

LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE

HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE

LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM CUYLER TO EAST FREETOWN TO

MARATHON...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...

WILLET AND TAYLOR BY 1215 PM EDT...

ERIEVILLE AND SMITHVILLE FLATS BY 1230 PM EDT...

SOUTH LEBANON BY 1235 PM EDT...

MORRISVILLE AND LEBANON BY 1240 PM EDT...

EATON AND PIERCEVILLE BY 1245 PM EDT...

PECKSPORT AND OXFORD BY 1250 PM EDT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING MEANS THAT SEVERE WEATHER IS OCCURRING

OR IS IMMINENT. WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...HAIL THREE-QUARTERS

OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER OR LARGER...VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND DEADLY

LIGHTNING ARE ALL LIKELY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS SEVERE STORM

MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER NOW.

PLEASE REPORT HAIL...OR DAMAGING WINDS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER

SERVICE BY CALLING TOLL FREE AT 1-877-633-6772...OR BY EMAIL AT

BGM.STORMREPORT@NOAA.GOV.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EDT TUESDAY EVENING

FOR CENTRAL NEW YORK AND NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA.