The threat of severe weather Monday afternoon and evening prompted the National Weather Service to issue a tornado watch until 9 p.m.

The watch area stretches from the northwest corner of Georgia south to Americus and east to Athens and Eatonton.

Macon, Warner Robins, Milledgeville, Perry and Forsyth are included in the watch, but Dublin is not.

Counties in the watch include: Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckely, Butts, Crawford, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Henry, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Macon, Meriwether, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Schley, Taylor, Twiggs, Upsaon, Wilcox and Wilkinson.

A watch means conditions are favorable for producing severe thunderstorms capable of spawning tornadoes.

People should be alert to changing weather conditions and look for approaching storms.

Signs of danger include a dark or greenish sky; large hail; a large, dark, low-lying cloud that could be rotating; or a loud roar like a freight train.

If you see the danger signs, be prepared to take shelter immediately, the Federal Emergency Management Agency says.