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(CNN) - More than 20 million US residents live in areas under tornado surveillance on Thursday, meteorologists at the National Weather Service said.
Surveillance is in effect for parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington DC and West Virginia.
"An extensive line of heavy to severe thunderstorms is expected to develop during the afternoon until tonight, near and east of the Appalachians from parts of New York to the Carolinas," said the Storm Prediction Center of the Service National Weather. "At least a few tornadoes and scattered and widespread winds are possible."
Tornado surveillance for Washington also included northern Virginia, Maryland, central Pennsylvania and east of the northern tip of West Virginia. The measure is in effect until midnight Eastern USA. According to the Storm Prediction Center, "some tornadoes are likely to occur with a couple of intense tornadoes," along with "likely widespread and damaging winds with significant gusts isolated at 75 mph (120 km / h)."
The meteorological service's Twitter account for tornado information said there were warnings for some 3,000 people in West Virginia.
A tornado warning means that a tornado has been seen in person or on the radar. A watch means that conditions are favorable for a tornado to form.
CNN meteorologists Brandon Miller and Haley Brink contributed to this news.
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