The National Weather Service (NWS) out of Mount Holly has issued a tornado watch for southern New Jersey, in effect until 7 p.m. Tuesday night.

The watch covers all of southern New Jersey, including Gloucester County, in effect from 12:17 Tuesday afternoon.

“I don’t know if it can get any worse,” said Anthony Gigi, meteorologist with the NWS. “It’s not going to snow.”

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to start after 3 p.m. and could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. The high temperature will be near 80.

Winds could hit 20 mph with gusts as high as 40 mph. Precipitation could be up to a half inch.

A wind advisory remains in effect until midnight. According to officials with the NWS, strong winds may bring down tree limbs and utility lines.

According to Gigi, the worst of the storm should be finished this evening.

The warning comes after a wind advisory was put in effect from noon to midnight on Tuesday. The NWS is also warning of thunderstorms and coastal flooding. Ocean City is also under a gale warning.

The warning comes two weeks after a tornado was confirmed in Mt. Ephraim during a period of severe storms.