NEW YORK CITY — A tornado watch was in effect for much of New York City Friday as thunderstorms, strong winds and hail are expected to lash the area, according to the National Weather Service.
The watch is for all five boroughs until 10 p.m.
"We have a tornado watch, it’s definitely possible to have a tornado spin off a tail end wind," Carlie Buccola, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, told DNAinfo.
12:33pm CDT #SPC_Watch WW 313 TORNADO CT MA NJ NY PA VT CW 011730Z - 020200Z, https://t.co/cctbURt3OB pic.twitter.com/wJgv0AdPo5
— NWS SPC (@NWSSPC) July 1, 2016
New York City's Department of Buildings urged builders, crane operators, contractors and property owners to secure materials that might blow away in winds that could reach 60 mph this afternoon.
The agency said it will be doing surprise spot checks to make sure construction sites are properly secure.
Weather Advisory to builders and property owners: NYC may experience wind gusts of up to 60mph this afternoon - secure property & equipment.
— NYC Buildings (@NYC_Buildings) July 1, 2016
New Yorkers took to social media Friday afternoon to react to the possibility of extreme weather.
Tornado watch! #NYC pic.twitter.com/9yrRXQOXb3
— Jenny Loeffler (@jennyloe) July 1, 2016
Check in with the National Weather Service for continued updates on the developing storm.
