A tornado watch is in effect for Rockdale, Newton and surrounding counties until 8 p.m. Monday.

The National Weather Service has also issued a hazardous weather outlook for these counties and portions of north and central Georgia Monday and Monday evening.

An area of showers and thunderstorms is expected to develop Monday afternoon across east and southeast sections from a line marked roughly by Macon to Gainesville. The main threat will be gusty and damaging winds, but the National Weather Service urges isolated tornadoes and large hail cannot be ruled out.