CLEVELAND — The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for several counties in the southern part of Northeast Ohio. These counties include: The watch will stay in effect until 3 a.m. on Monday.

The National Weather Service said a system that battered parts of the Midwest through the weekend could bring hail, thunderstorms and tornadoes.

The warning is in place for western Franklin County, Ripley County northwestern Switzerland County in southeastern Indiana until 8:30 p.m.

A severe weather outbreak is taking shape across the central and eastern United States, setting the stage for a weekend of thunderstorms, hail and potential tornadoes. Widespread storms are expected to sweep through a region stretching from Texas to Michigan on Sunday.

Worst part of the storm should hit Middle Tennessee after 10 p.m. Sunday with winds, rain and chance of tornadoes

Late night severe storms are likely in Alabama starting Sunday night, but there could also be a few in south Alabama through early afternoon. The National Weather Service in Mobile was watching storms developing closer to the Gulf Coast on Sunday before noon and said there is a non-zero chance for a tornado through the lunchtime hours.

The weather service issued a "take cover" alert and instructed those in the path of the tornado to head to a basement or interior room of a house on the lowest floor.

About one-tenth to two-tenths of an inch of rain were forecast at lower elevations Monday, but mountain areas could exceed half an inch, according to the National Weather Service.

The tornado watch is in effect till 7 p.m. for Chicago, the surrounding south and west suburbs and northwest Indiana. The National Weather Service warns of tornadoes, hail the size of ping-pong balls and 70 mph winds.