New York City is staring down a stormy Friday night, with a severe thunderstorm watch in effect and forecasters warning of damaging winds, frequent lightning and tropical-style downpours through about 11 p.m. The volatile setup arrives on top of an extreme heat wave that has baked the region all week, boosting the odds of quick-hitting, intense storms that could upend holiday travel and outdoor plans.
The Storm Prediction Center issued Severe Thunderstorm Watch No. 448 Friday afternoon for southern New York, northern New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and nearby coastal waters. The watch runs into the late evening, according to the Storm Prediction Center. Forecasters there flag damaging wind gusts as the main concern and say the strongest storms could produce peak gusts of roughly 55–70 mph…