The National Weather Service in Wakefield has issued a tornado watch for much of the area – the watch is effective until midnight Friday.
Forecasters said showers and thunderstorms are likely to develop early afternoon, and have the potential of being strong to severe but the more pronounced threat of widespread severe storms comes likely late in the evening.
A flash flood watch also is in effect in the area until 4 a.m.
The weather is predicted to produce 60-80 mph wind gusts late Friday with a possibility of hail.