Potentially severe thunderstorms are expected to lash the New York City metro area later Thursday, bringing the threat of damaging straight-line wind and hail as we kick off one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of Maine and New Hampshire until 6 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/8hl8F74PUk “The heat and humidity are setting the stage for some active weather,” Graf wrote in her latest weather blog. “These storms could bring damaging winds, hail, heavy downpours, and frequent lightning.”