'Enhanced' risk of severe thunderstorms for Philly area

The Philadelphia area is bracing for a hot and stormy Tuesday, with an enhanced risk of thunderstorms for the area.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the entire region until 7 p.m. The likeliest period for strong storms would be from late afternoon into early evening.

The government's Storm Prediction Center, in Norman, Okla., has placed the region under the "enhanced risk" zone for severe storms, calling for a 30 percent chance of gusts of 58 m.p.h. or higher.

Already, thunderstorms elsewhere are leading to delays for flights headed to Philadelphia International Airport as the region braces for a hot and stormy Tuesday.

The airport said arriving flights were facing delays that average an hour and 18 minutes under an FAA flight management program.

Storms are causing problems for flights across the Northeast, with planes destined for Newark, New York City and Boston also seeing weather-related delays of about one to two hours.

But before the expected storms and accompanying cold front roll in, the region is forecasted to face intense heat.

In Philadelphia, a heat advisory is in effect from 11 a.m. through 6 p.m., with warm temperatures and high humidity in the forecast.

The mercury is slated to reach the mid 90s, with heat index values in the upper 90s, according to the National Weather Service.

The high temperature could rival the hottest day of the year so far, the 95 degrees reached on June 12.

By 11 a.m., the temperature had already reached 86 degrees at the airport.

People are advised to avoid overexerting themselves outdoors in the afternoon and watch for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.