The National Weather Service has issued severe thunderstorm warnings in several New Jersey counties Friday afternoon as strong storms with gusty winds, hail and the potential for a tornado sweep across the state.

One thunderstorm warning was issued at 3 p.m. and covers parts of Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties. It is effective until 3:45 p.m. Friday, and the weather service said this storm cell could produce 60 mph wind gusts and hail as large as ping pong balls.

Another thunderstorm warning was issued just minutes after the first one and covers parts of Hunterdon, Mercer and Somerset counties. That warning is also effective until 3:45 p.m.

PHI issues Flood Advisory for Burlington, Camden, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Somerset [NJ] and Bucks, Philadelphia [PA] till May 20, 7:30 PM EDT https://t.co/fp2NGlxgYx pic.twitter.com/GmxfGw5PbX

UPDATE: (6:15 p.m.): The National Weather Service has canceled the tornado watch for Burlington, Camden, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties. No counties in the Garden State remain under a tornado watch at this time.

UPDATE (5:55 p.m.): The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for central Ocean County, effective until 6:45 p.m. Friday. Among the towns that may be impacted by this storm cell are Barnegat, Bamber Lake, Beachwood, Brookville, Forked River, Lacey Township, Ocean Acres, Seaside Heights, Toms River, Waretown and Warren Grove.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Forked River NJ, Seaside Heights NJ and Barnegat NJ until 6:45 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/FQl55ADc8e

UPDATE (5:25 p.m.): The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Monmouth County and northeastern Ocean County, effective until 6 p.m. Friday, because of storms packing wind gusts as high as 60 mph along with quarter-sized hail.

UPDATE: (5:10 p.m.): The National Weather Service has canceled the tornado watch for Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties, but the tornado watch remains active until 7 p.m. for Burlington, Camden, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Lakewood NJ, Long Branch NJ and Point Pleasant NJ until 6:00 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/E38jgVFN6h

UPDATE (5 p.m.): The National Weather Service said strong thunderstorms (but not strong enough to be classified as severe) are moving across Monmouth County, central Middlesex County and northern Ocean County now through 5:45 p.m. Friday with pea-sized hail and wind gusts up to 40 mph.

UPDATE (4:35 p.m.): The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for central Burlington County, central Camden County and northwestern Ocean County, effective until 5:15 p.m. Friday. This storm cell could produce wind gusts up to 60 mph along with quarter-size hail. The weather service has received a report of quarter-size hail (1 inch in diameter) in Cherry Hill, hail stones the size of ping pong balls (1.5 inches in diameter) near Greentree in Camden County, and hail stones the size of nickels (0.88 inches in diameter) in Marlton, Burlington County.

UPDATE: (4:30 p.m.): The National Weather Service has canceled the tornado watch for Gloucester and Salem counties, because the storms moving through those areas aren’t as intense as they were earlier. But the tornado watch remains active until 7 p.m. in 11 other counties: Burlington, Camden, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Somerset, Sussex and Warren.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Lindenwold NJ, Haddonfield NJ and Browns Mills NJ until 5:15 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/h7UPq5Iywm

UPDATE (4:25 p.m.): The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory for Burlington, Camden, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean and Somerset counties, effective until 7:30 p.m. Friday.

UPDATE (4 p.m.): The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties, effective until 4:30 p.m. Friday.

UPDATE (3:55 p.m.): The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory for parts of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties, effective until 7 p.m. Friday.

UPDATE (3:45 p.m.): The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Hunterdon, Mercer, Somerset and Warren counties, effective until 4:30 p.m. This storm cell could produce wind gusts up to 70 mph, along with large hail.

UPDATE (3:40 p.m.): The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer and Salem counties, effective until 4:30 p.m. This storm cell could produce wind gusts up to 60 mph, along with large hail.

UPDATE (3:30 p.m.): The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement saying a strong thunderstorm is expected to move across parts of northwestern Camden County, south-central Mercer County, northwestern Burlington County, along with southeastern Bucks County and east-central Philadelphia County in eastern Pennsylvania through 4 p.m. Friday. That storm cell is producing wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny-size hail.

When a severe thunderstorm watch is issued, people should be aware of the possibility of strong storms on the way. A warning is more urgent than a watch.National Weather Service

The severe thunderstorm warnings are in addition to the tornado watch in effect until 7 p.m Friday for 13 counties across the state.

“Confidence has increased in the potential for severe weather this afternoon and evening,” the weather service said prior to the warning being issued. “Damaging winds remain the primary threat but hail and an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.”

Areas to the north and west are at the greatest risk for strong storms, with scattered wind gusts of up to 70 mph possible. In a forecast discussion published just before noon, the weather service said the storms will lose some of their punch as they push east.

“The main question here is how quickly will the (storms) weaken,” the weather service said.

Once the storms move away this evening, a mild overnight awaits with temps with overnight lows mainly in the 60s.

Saturday and Sunday will be scorchers with highs in the mid 90s and then the upper 80s to low 90s, respectively. The heat index on Sunday might approach 100 in much of the state. A heat advisory will be in effect on Saturday for 15 counties.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.

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