Flood, High Wind Warnings Issued As ‘Multi-Hazard Storm’ Hits NJ

NEW JERSEY - Fierce winds, heavy rain, severe thunderstorms and possible flooding are in the cards for the Garden State during a “multi-hazard” nor’easter storm set to pound the region on Wednesday, forecasters said.

Between one and three inches of rain are expected to drop on New Jersey through Thursday, though locally higher amounts are possible, according to the National Weather Service. The Jersey Shore is slated to feel the largest impacts, with moderate flooding expected on the coast and up to 14-feet seas forecast through Wednesday evening due to sustained gale-force winds.

Minor to moderate flooding is also possible along parts of the Passaic and Millstone rivers in New Jersey and the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, AccuWeather said.

“A multi-hazard storm will impact our area on Wednesday,” the weather service said in an X post, formerly Twitter. “The system will bring strong to damaging winds, heavy rainfall leading to flooding, potential for severe thunderstorms, and dangerous marine conditions.”

Though snow isn’t likely to come to most of the state during this nor’easter, a few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible, mostly in South Jersey, from Wednesday afternoon to early evening.

However, due to the nor’easter freeze, 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.

⚠️🌧️🌬️ A multi-hazard storm will impact our area on Wednesday. The system will bring strong to damaging winds, heavy rainfall leading to flooding, potential for severe thunderstorms, and dangerous marine conditions. Briefing: https://t.co/79XzYJ4BY1 #PAwx #NJwx #DEwx #MDwx pic.twitter.com/14sHS1pOfF
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) April 2, 2024

As of 9:30 a.m., four New Jersey counties are under a coastal flood warning through Thursday morning. The affected counties are:

• Middlesex
• Monmouth
• Ocean
• Burlington

“One to two feet of inundation above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways” is possible, the National Weather Service noted. “At this level, widespread roadway flooding occurs in coastal and bayside communities and along inland tidal waterways. Many roads become impassable. Some damage to vulnerable structures may begin to occur.”

Another 13 counties (Warren, Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Mercer, Salem, Gloucester, Passaic, Hudson, Bergen, Essex, Union and Camden) are under a flood watch through Thursday afternoon.

Over two inches of rain have already dropped on the Garden State since Monday, further contributing to ground saturation, according to the National Weather Service.

“Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations,” the National Weather Service said in a flood watch statement. “Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.”

Monmouth County is under a high wind warning for wind gusts up to 60 mph that could down trees and power lines through Wednesday.

“Widespread power outages are expected,” the weather service said. “Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”

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

Wednesday: Showers. High near 40. Breezy, with an east wind 18 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 36. Breezy, with an east wind 19 to 24 mph decreasing to 11 to 16 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of rain and snow showers before 11 a.m., then rain showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. North wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday Night: Rain showers likely before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 2 and 5 a.m., then a slight chance of snow showers after 5 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. North wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday: A slight chance of snow showers before 8 a.m., then a chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Central Jersey

Wednesday: Periods of rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 11 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 47. Breezy, with an east wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Periods of rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 a.m., then rain likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 40. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 11 p.m., then a chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce small hail. Cloudy, with a low around 36. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.

South Jersey

Wednesday: Periods of rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 1 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 56. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Periods of rain and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of rain. Low around 41. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: A chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 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 39. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 52. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.