Flood Alerts Issued As Nor’easter Spreads Across NJ: See Forecast

NEW JERSEY - Strong thunderstorms, heavy rain and isolated flooding are in the cards for New Jersey during the latest spring storm, forecasters said.

Rain has already started to fall Tuesday morning on the Garden State, which is expected to see between two and three inches of precipitation through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Strong thunderstorms in the late afternoon to evening are possible, as well as locally heavy rain and isolated flooding.

(2/3) Low pressure then develops over the southern Appalachians Tue night, and lifts through the region Wed-Wed night. Mod to heavy rain will continue to impact the region. Localized urban flooding possible, as well as rises on rivers in the Raritan, Passaic and Rancocas basins. pic.twitter.com/XtMLOFLi9N
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) April 1, 2024

Tuesday’s temperatures are expected to approach 50 degrees, though overcast skies and wind gusts as high as 30 mph will make it feel cooler.

As of 9:30 a.m., four New Jersey counties are under a coastal flood advisory. The affected counties are:

• Middlesex
• Monmouth
• Ocean
• Burlington

“Up to one foot of inundation above ground level expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways,” the National Weather Service said in a statement. “At this level, flooding begins on the most vulnerable roads in coastal and bayside communities, and along inland tidal waterways. Some partial or full road closures are possible.”

Wednesday’s rain could charge to wet snow in the Poconos and northwestern New Jersey as temperatures drop into the 30s. In fact, the entire Northeast is likely to see persistent chill (with temperatures 5 to 15 degrees below average) and frosty mornings mid- to late-week, AccuWeather said.

"Several days of cold winds will accompany and follow the storm that is likely to be a slow-mover," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "It may seem like winter finally showed up."

Wednesday afternoon also holds the possibility of thunderstorms and wind gusts up to 20 mph, forecasters from the National Weather Service said.

The silver lining: heavy rain is expected to taper off by Thursday, which should see partly sunny skies with highs in the low 50s. The weekend forecast appears to be equally sunny with temperatures in the mid 50s.

Here's the latest forecast, according to the National Weather Service:

North Jersey

Tuesday: Rain, mainly after 11 a.m. High near 43. East wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Rain. Steady temperature around 41. East wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 5 p.m. High near 40. East wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Rain before 5 a.m., then rain likely, possibly mixed with snow. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 35. Northeast wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday: Rain likely, possibly mixed with snow before 11 a.m., then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Northwest wind around 9 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Central Jersey

Tuesday: Periods of rain. High near 48. East wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Periods of rain. Low around 44. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 11 a.m. High near 47. Windy, with an east wind 20 to 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then rain likely between 2 and 5 a.m., then a chance of showers after 5 a.m. Low around 39. Breezy, with an east wind 10 to 20 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of showers, mainly after 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. West wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

South Jersey

Tuesday: Periods of rain. High near 50. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Periods of rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 45. Breezy, with a northeast wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 58. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a chance of rain between 2 and 5 a.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 40. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: A chance of showers, mainly after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 56. West wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.