N.J. weather: Severe thunderstorm watch issued for threat of tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail [Video]

For the second time in four days, a severe thunderstorm watch has been issued in New Jersey because of the threat of strong thunderstorms that could generate damaging winds, large hail and even some small tornadoes.

The watch, which is not as urgent as a warning, covers 17 counties in the Garden State and will be effective from 6:15 p.m. Wednesday through 12 a.m. Thursday.

The counties under the the watch were Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties.

The National Weather Service says a strong cold front will move across our region, setting the stage for scattered thunderstorms that could become intense because of the energy from the 90-degree temperatures and high humidity.

Forecasters from the Storm Prediction Center, affiliated with the National Weather Service, say there’s a 15% to 30% chance of severe winds and a 5% to 15% chance of significant hail occurring in any part of the Garden …