Rounding out a week of severe weather notable for the incredible amounts of hail it produced — from 5" of hail accumulation in Denver to near-softball size hail falling in New York — it's the eastern Carolinas' turn today to see hail possibly up to the size of baseballs.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 9PM for the above counties outlined in blue. The watch means that conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms, some of which could produce hail larger than 2.5" in diameter, winds in excess of 70 MPH, and possibly a tornado or two.

Extremely warm surface temperatures are approaching the lower 90s in most locations, and these mixed with cooler temperatures aloft will allow for some pretty strong storms to develop over the next couple of hours. The visible satellite as of 1:30PM EDT shows that there's not much going on right now, but that should change as we go through the evening hours.

The biggest threat today is very large hail, which the Storm Prediction Center notes could reach "2.5 inches in diameter," or just a bit smaller than a baseball. It's not out of the question to see hail larger than baseballs in a few of the strongest storms, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on the weather and make sure you're not outside or in a vehicle when the storms hit.

As always, make sure your local National Weather Service office is bookmarked so you can track warnings in your area, and check the radar before you head out.

Stay safe, and have a good weekend.

[Top image taken by the author back in June 2013, map via SimuAWIPS]