A tornado watch has been issued for portions of western and central Louisiana — including Vernon Parish and the Fort Polk area — and is in effect until 5 p.m.

Storms this morning across northern and central Louisiana have had the potential for tornadoes and damaging wind gusts, and this activity could affect portions of the watch area through this afternoon, said Montra Lockwood, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Lake Charles office.

Showers and strong storms with heavy rainfall are expected to redevelop this morning and push to the east during the afternoon. The activity is expected to diminish by late afternoon. Lock wood said there is still a risk for flash flooding.

The greatest potential for the flooding will be in central Louisiana where a flood watch remains in effect through 4 p.m.

Lockwood said an upper level disturbance in northeast Texas is continuing to move to the east and is expected to combine with a very moist and unstable air mass to produce these widespread showers and thunderstorms.

The thunderstorms will have the potential to become severe and produce heavy rainfall in a short period of time, Lockwood said.