Severe Thunderstorms Possible Wednesday Afternoon, Evening

BOSTON (CBS) -  Wednesday is a day to be weather aware. We have you on a Storm Watch Weather Alert for impactful weather heading our way. A cold front will cross the region this evening, sparking thunderstorms ahead of its approach. Not every city or town will see a storm, and not every storm will become severe, but the risk is there for potential damage.

Storms will fire up first in western New England, then slide east during the mid-to-late afternoon. Conditions are most favorable for severe storms, isolated to scattered in nature, north and west of Boston, where a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is up until 9 p.m.

Locally heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts are the highest risks in any severe storms that develop Wednesday, although large hail and a brief spinup tornado cannot be ruled out completely.

Your evening commute home will be slow in spots as the storms march east; urban centers and low lying areas may experience localized flooding, and frequent lightning will be a threat. Remember: "when thunder roars, go indoors."

The line of storms should weaken as it encounters a more stable marine layer in far southeast Mass. between 6 and 9 p.m. Keep an eye to the sky Wednesday and stay tuned to WBZ-TV on-air and online for updates as warranted.