India, July 5 -- A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for large parts of the Northeast, with the National Weather Service (NWS) warning that damaging winds, hail and frequent lightning are possible through 11 p.m. EDT on Saturday.

The watch covers portions of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, affecting more than 21 million people.

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) said scattered severe thunderstorms are expected to develop during the afternoon and evening. The strongest storms could produce wind gusts of up to 75 mph.

According to the NWS, the watch extends across parts of five states, including major metropolitan areas and surrounding counties. Cities within or near the watch area include New York City,...