A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect through 6 p.m.Monday with damaging wind gusts as the primary threat for Butler and surrounding counties.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect through 6 p.m. with damaging wind gusts as the primary threat for Butler and surrounding counties.

The Severe Weather Service of Pittsburgh issued the new watch around noon Monday, advising residents to remain cautious this afternoon.

Large hail is possible, and a tornado “cannot be ruled out,” the Severe Weather Service of Pittsburgh said in a Twitter post.

Butler County also saw a severe thunderstorm watch from 12:50 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, which was said to be a preview of Monday's less-severe outlook.

Lee Hendricks, a meteorologist for the service said Sunday's conditions gave ample opportunity for pop-up storms. He said some in Mercer and Lawrence counties were hit hard by sudden downpours.

“Some people were getting an inch and a half of rain in a short amount of time,” Hendricks said.

But there's a break from the heat on the horizon. Much of the humidity should be carried off with Sunday's storms.

The service is forecasting a cold front coming through the middle part of the week with temperatures at night dipping as low as the 40s.

Reporter Nathan Bottiger contributed to this report.