The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for central and eastern New York until 8:00 tonight. It probably won't impact NYC, which is what officials in disaster movies always say just before the apocalypse.

Recall that, in 2012, a tornado touched down in Brooklyn and Queens.

“We are asking all New Yorkers in the path of these storms to remain alert, stay informed and exercise caution,” Governor Cuomo said, in a statement issued this afternoon. He broke down the twister zone in detail, here:

The Tornado Watch is in effect for Albany, Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Onondaga, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, and Washington Counties.

However, this update came in around 5:30:

Northeast Pennsylvania, western Massachusetts, and southern Vermont are in the line of fire as well. Airports are already anticipating the inevitable backlog.

Cuomo has also issued a handy list of tips, ranging from helpful, to alarmist, to irrelevant for city dwellers. You can read them all here, but for those in a hurry: tie down your lawn furniture, bring in your hanging plants, and acquire a standby generator. Then get inside (away from windows and glass doors!) and charge your cellphone.

And, before you start inventorying your heirlooms, keep in mind the important distinction between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning.

According to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski, "A watch is issued when conditions are favorable, for example, either for a severe thunderstorm or tornadoes." But, "It doesn't mean severe weather is imminent."

If Dorothy had been able to check Weather.com, she would have likely seen a Tornado Warning in effect.