CONCORD — The National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, warns residents and visitors in New Hampshire that there is an enhanced risk for severe storms Sunday.

At about 1 p.m., a tornado watch was issued for parts of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont until 8 p.m. by the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine. A tornado watch means current weather conditions could lead to a tornado, and you should be prepared to move to shelter. A warning means a tornado is occurring or about to happen, seek shelter immediately.

According to the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, thunderstorms are expected to develop between 2 to 4 p.m. and move southeast across the area through the evening by 9 p.m.

The New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management urges residents and visitors to prepare now for the possibility of damaging winds, isolated tornadoes, hail, and flash flooding.

“Stay informed to keep you and your family safe,” said HSEM Director Robert Buxton. “Review your family emergency plan now and make sure your emergency kit is stocked. Your kit should include important documents and contact information along with supplies.”

The NWS said there is the potential for winds over 70 mph, and the Storm Prediction Center has issued a 10% risk for tornadoes across New Hampshire for Sunday.

Campers should have a way to be aware of changing conditions and be prepared to evacuate to higher ground immediately if flooding occurs. Campers also should have a plan for alternative shelter if needed.

The state Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency offers the following safety recommendations:

• Have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. Monitor storm updates from the NationalWeather Service and local news stations. Sign up for NH Alerts and download the GenasysProtect mobile app to receive free emergency notifications.
• If flooding occurs get to higher ground immediately. Just 6 inches of moving water can knockyou down, and 1 foot of water can sweep your vehicle away.
• If driving in a vehicle, remember the saying, “turn around, don’t drown.”
• If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move tohigher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water. Just 6 inches of water can reachthe bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.
• Prepare your home: Trim trees that may fall and cause damage.
• Tie down or bring indoors any objects that might be blown around by winds (outdoorfurniture, decorations, garbage cans, and other loose objects that are normally left outside).
• Follow instructions from local emergency officials and know how to safely evacuate shouldyou be told to do so.
• Find the latest road conditions at newengland511.org.Learn more about staying informed, having a plan and making a kit as well as the actions to take for different severe weather events online at ReadyNH.gov.Stay informed by following New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, (@NH_HSEM) and Instagram (@NH_HSE.

Unitil readies for potential outages

Unitil Corporation announced Sunday they are prepared to respond to outages in all service regions as potentially severe thunderstorms pass through this afternoon and tonight.

According to the most recent forecast, wind gusts of 40-65 miles per hour or more are possible within the most powerful storm cells today, with isolated chances of tornado activity possible as well. High winds have the potential to take down otherwise healthy tree limbs and branches into poles and wires, causing outages.

Unitil secured additional crews in advance of the storm and will have teams ready to respond in all regions during the expected peak activity.

“Thunderstorm activity in the late spring and early summer is fast moving and has the potential to deliver extremely hazardous conditions with little to no advance warning,” Unitil External Affairs Director Alec O’Meara said. “We recognize conditions are ripe for such activity today, and we are prepared to react should any area see the worst of what is forecasted.”

Unitil will be communicating throughout the event through Public Service Announcements (PSAs), their website, customer call center and through the media. They also encourage customers to follow along with their storm updates via Facebook, Twitter feed (@Unitil) and will provide real-time outage information online at unitil.com/map.

The NASCAR Cup Series takes on the 1-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday in the USA TODAY 301.

Chase Elliott is on the pole after qualifying was cancelled due to rain. Sunday’s weather forecast includes rain chances, and NASCAR moved up the start time for the USA TODAY 301 by a half-hour.

Last week, Ryan Blaney won the first-ever Cup race at the Iowa Speedway, securing his first win of the season.

Here’s how you can watch Sunday’s race:

SUNDAY’S LINEUP: NASCAR Cup Series at New Hampshire: Starting lineup, TV schedule for Sunday’s race

NEW HAMPSHIRE PICKS: NASCAR New Hampshire predictions 2024: Expert picks for Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

NASHVILLE RACE TICKETS: How to buy tickets for Ally 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway

NASCAR New Hampshire TV schedule, start time for USA TODAY 301

Green Flag Time:  Approx. 1:05 p.m. CT on Sunday, June 23 (prerace coverage begins at 1 p.m. CT Sunday)

Track:  New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.058-mile oval) in Loudon, New Hampshire

Length:  301 laps, 318.46 miles

Stages:  70 laps, 115 laps, 116 laps

TV coverage:  USA Network

Radio:  PRN

Streaming: FUBO (free trial available); NBC Sports app (subscription required); GoPRN.com and SiriusXM on Channel 90 for audio (subscription required)

The USA TODAY 301 will be broadcast nationally on USA Network. Streaming options for the race include the FOX Sports app and FUBO, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

NASCAR Cup Series 2024 schedule

All times Central.

• Feb. 3: Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum, LA Coliseum (Winner: Denny Hamlin) Non-points
• Feb. 15: Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona, Daytona International Speedway (Winners: Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell) Non-points
• Feb. 19: Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway (Winner: William Byron)
• Feb. 25: Ambetter Health 400, Atlanta Motor Speedway (Winner: Daniel Suarez)
• March 3: Pennzoil 400, Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Winner: Kyle Larson)
• March 10: Shriners Children’s 500, Phoenix Raceway (Winner: Christopher Bell)
• March 17: Food City 500, Bristol Motor Speedway (Winner: Denny Hamlin)
• March 24: EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, Circuit of the Americas (Winner: William Byron)
• March 31: Toyota Owners 400, Richmond Raceway (Winner: Denny Hamlin)
• April 7: Cook Out 400, Martinsville Speedway (Winner: William Byron)
• April 14: AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400, Texas Motor Speedway (Winner: Chase Elliott)
• April 21: Geico 500, Talladega Superspeedway (Winner: Tyler Reddick)
• April 28: Wurth 400, Dover Motor Speedway (Winner: Denny Hamlin)
• May 5: AdventHealth 400, Kansas Speedway (Winner: Kyle Larson)
• May 12: Goodyear 400, Darlington Raceway (Winner: Brad Keselowski)
• May 19: NASCAR All-Star Open, North Wilkesboro Speedway (Winner: Ty Gibbs) Non-points
• May 19: NASCAR All-Star Race, North Wilkesboro Speedway (Winner: Joey Logano) Non-points
• May 26: Coca-Cola 600, Charlotte Motor Speedway (Winner: Christopher Bell)
• June 2: Enjoy Illinois 300, World Wide Technology Raceway (Winner: Austin Cindric)
• June 9: Toyota/Save Mart 350, Sonoma Raceway (Winner: Kyle Larson)
• June 16: Iowa Corn 350, Iowa Speedway (Winner: Ryan Blaney)
• June 23: USA TODAY 301, New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1:05 p.m., USA Network)
• June 30: Ally 400, Nashville Superspeedway (2:30 p.m., NBC)
• July 7: Grant Park 165, Chicago street course (3:30 p.m., NBC)
• July 14: The Great American Getaway 400, Pocono Raceway (1:30 p.m., USA Network)
• July 21: Brickyard 400, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (1:30 p.m., NBC)
• Aug. 11: Cook Out 400, Richmond Raceway (5 p.m., USA Network)
• Aug. 18: FireKeepers Casino 400, Michigan International Speedway (1:30 p.m., USA Network)
• Aug. 24: Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona International Speedway (6:30 p.m., NBC)
• Sept. 1: Cook Out Southern 500, Darlington Raceway (5 p.m., USA Network)Regular season finale
• Sept. 8: Quaker State 400, Atlanta Motor Speedway (2 p.m., USA Network) Round of 16
• Sept. 15: Go Bowling at The Glen, Watkins Glen International (2 p.m., USA Network) Round of 16
• Sept. 21: Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Bristol Motor Speedway (6:30 p.m., USA Network) Round of 16
• Sept. 29: Hollywood Casino 400, Kansas Speedway (2 p.m., USA Network) Round of 12
• Oct. 6: YellaWood 500, Talladega Superspeedway (1 p.m., NBC) Round of 12
• Oct. 13: Bank of America Roval 400, Charlotte Motor Speedway road course (1 p.m., NBC) Round of 12
• Oct. 20: South Point 400, Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1:30 p.m., NBC) Round of 8
• Oct. 27: Untitled race at Homestead-Miami Speedway (1:30 p.m., NBC) Round of 8
• Nov. 3: Xfinity 500, Martinsville Speedway (1 p.m., NBC) Round of 8
• Nov. 10: NASCAR Cup Series Championship race, Phoenix Raceway (2 p.m., NBC)

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

RSS Racing with Viking Motorsports’ Matt DiBenedetto originally finished Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 17th place, giving him his fifth top 20 finish of a 2024 season that only started for him in race number six on the calendar.

But DiBenedetto was later disqualified from the 203-lap SciAps 200 around the four-turn, 1.058-mile (1.703-kilometer) “Magic Mile” oval in Loudon, New Hampshire, dropping him from 17th to 38th (last) place on the official results sheet.

The disqualification came due to three loose lug nuts on the right rear wheel of DiBenedetto’s No. 38 Ford, which was sponsored by race title sponsor SciAps. As a result, DiBenedetto scored just one point on Saturday instead of 20.

Everybody who originally finished behind DiBenedetto moved up by one spot, with those who had finished between 18th and 36th place gaining an additional point.

The original 37th and 38th place finishers, DGM Racing’s Nathan Byrd and Young’s Motorsports’ Leland Honeyman, still scored just one point each after moving up to 36th and 37th, respectively.

Notably, DiBenedetto did not score any points in either one of the first two stages, as he did not finish in the top 10 in either, so the only post-race points changes came a result of his updated finishing position.

DiBenedetto, who has competed in 11 races this year, fell from 26th to 29th place in the point standings as a result of the disqualification, though he is not eligible for the playoffs anyway, since he missed the season’s first five races and was not issued a waiver.

With nobody gaining more than a single point due to his disqualification, there were no huge changes to the playoff picture. The most significant change as far as the playoffs are concerned is the fact that Our Motorsports’ Anthony Alfredo, who moved up from 21st to 20th place in Saturday’s race, is now 71 points below the cut line instead of 72.