The National Weather Service issued a series of severe-thunderstorm warnings across the lower Northeast late Thursday, covering large sections of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island through at least 8:30 p.m. EDT. Forecasters said multiple fast-moving cells were capable of producing damaging straight-line winds of 60–80 mph and quarter-size hail. The strongest storms tracked over northern and central New Jersey, where the Mount Holly office warned of destructive gusts up to 80 mph affecting communities from South Plainfield to Woodbridge. Additional warnings extended east and north to New Haven, Hartford, Providence and the New York City borough of Staten Island, with the New York and Boston forecast offices cautioning residents to seek shelter as storms approached. The agency advised motorists to avoid flooded roadways and urged the public to monitor updates as the line of storms moved toward coastal Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts during the evening commute.