It was meant to highlight the thunderstorms and heavy rain that were due to strike the East Coast.

But unfortunately, this weather forecast map ended up emphasizing something else altogether.

The map, created by AccuWeather.com and aired by TV news crews this week, features a huge green band of rain and storms covering states such as New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts.

And both news anchors and viewers could not fail to note its resemblance to a giant penis.

'The East Coast getting the shaft,' joked an anchor for Chicago's WGN-TV, where the news crew burst into laughter live on air. Another added: 'You can't argue with the computer. It's science.'

Scroll down for video

Unfortunate pattern: This weather forecast map, created by AccuWeather.com and aired by TV news crews this week, features a green band of rain and thunderstorms that bears an unfortunate resemblace to a penis

Amused: Readers of NJ.com - which published the map on Tuesday morning - took to Facebook to comment on the map's appearance, with Anthony Michael remarking: 'New England is getting penetrated with this one'

'Getting shafted: Mark Buttich was among those to joke about the map, writing: 'Northeast getting shafted'

And a viewer tweeted: 'Does this mean those in rain starved California now have penis envy?'

Readers of NJ.com - which unwittingly published the map in a weather report on Tuesday morning - reacted similarly, with one remarking: 'Looks like the rain is really penetrating New England!'

Reader Michael Evans wrote on the site's Facebook page: 'Looks like the East is in for a pounding... yes, the weather is giving us the shaft,' while Paul Povinelli said: 'Wear protection if you go out.'

Barbara Mull Brockmeyer wrote: 'Never needed a cigarette after seeing a weather map before.'

And Michelle Smith remarked: 'About time the weather is telling the truth We're screwed.'

Other readers, however, managed to abstain from telling jokes.

Michelle Amy wrote: 'This is totally making this rainy day so much worth it. Hahah.'

And Iris Rae Levine Accettol said: 'Unfortunate graphic. But grateful for the rain.'

Joking: Michael Evans said: 'Looks like the East is in for a pounding... yes, the weather is giving us the shaft'

Stunned: Barbara Mull Brockmeyer wrote: 'Never needed a cigarette after seeing a weather map before'

'A happy storm': And Facebook user Kario Sime joked: 'This storm was very happy to see the East Coast!'

Unable to hold it in: 'The East Coast getting the shaft,' laughed an anchor for Chicago's WGN-TV, where the crew began laughing live on air (pictured). Another added: 'You can't argue with the computer. It's science'

The map displayed the weather forecast for Tuesday, when millions of people across the East Coast and Southeast were at risk of severe conditions, including heavy rain and heavy thunderstorms.

Drenching rain struck New York City and New Jersey on Tuesday morning. The Weather Channel told NBC that parts of the Northeast could receive up to two inches of rain throughout the day.

Commuters in Washington and Philadelphia were also struck by torrential downpours, while areas of North Carolina and Virginia were placed under tornado warnings amid heavy winds.

Shortly after noon on Tuesday, the New York Police Department's 112th Precinct tweeted a photo of a car lying upside down on a wet road, with its doors smashed in, alongside the caption: 'Although the rain has stopped, the roads are still slippery. Stay alive. Drive 25! Thankfully the motorist is ok.'

Previous mishap: It is not the first time a weather map has ended up resembling a penis. Above, ABC 12 News reporter Siobhan Riley unwittingly drew a shape resembling a large penis during a 2013 news bulletin

Bad positioning: Last year, Jimmy Kimmel created a video emphasizing the high number of phallic-shaped weather maps to hit U.S. TV screens. Above, this KCAL 9 news anchor was featured in the hilarious video

Hilarious: 'There's actually someone at this show whose job it is to keep track of penis-shaped weather patterns,' Kimmel told the audience, to much laughter. Above, this ABC graphic was also in the video

Severe thunderstorms could affect the 'northern tier' of the U.S. until the end of the week, Weather.com warned on Thursday, with heavy rain and flash flooding in 'a few spots'.

However, the weather across the East Coast will typically be humid and sunny.

It is not the first time a weather map has ended up resembling a penis.

Last October, Jimmy Kimmel created a video emphasizing the high number of phallic-shaped weather maps to hit U.S. TV screens, remarking that such maps are 'unusually' common.

'There's actually someone at this show whose job it is to keep track of penis-shaped weather patterns,' Kimmel told the audience, to much laughter. 'His parents are very, very proud.'

Better weather: The penis-shaped AccuWeather.com map showed the forecast for Tuesday, when the East Coast was at risk of severe conditions. Above, the coast witnessed drier and more humid weather on Friday