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.

New York City and the surrounding Tri-State Area could see some severe thunderstorms on Tuesday. It's a First Alert Weather Day as we track all the latest alerts. A flood watch has been issued for central New Jersey from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. There will also be dangerous rip currents along New York's south facing beaches.

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Severe thunderstorms capable of bringing damaging winds and torrential rain could hit Upstate New York this afternoon. The highest chances for those storms is in the eastern half of the state, east of a line from Binghamton to Plattsburgh, the National Weather Service said.