Flood Warning, NJ School Dismissals Issued Ahead Of Tuesday Storm

NEW JERSEY - Several schools in the Garden State have announced abbreviated days ahead of a fierce storm expected to slam the state Tuesday evening with heavy rain, strong wind gusts and possible power outages.

A state of emergency issued by Gov. Phil Murphy ahead of the storm goes into effect across New Jersey at 5 p.m.

As of 4:30 p.m., the National Weather Service has issued a flood warning through Thursday night for the Ramapo River affecting Bergen, Morris and Passaic counties and Assunpink Creek at Trenton affecting Mercer County. The entire state is under a flood watch until Wednesday afternoon.

Related: These NJ Rivers Expected To Have Major Flooding As Storm Arrives

Forecasters say the storm will bring 2 to 3 inches of rain, with four inches possible in the hardest hit areas north of I-95. The heaviest rain will fall from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 2 a.m. Wednesday, with several rivers slated to experience “moderate to major flooding” across northern New Jersey and southeast Pennsylvania, the National Weather Service said.

"Strong to damaging winds" are also in the cards, the agency said, with wind gusts of up to 60 mph inland and up to 70 mph near the coasts.

"We are expecting substantial and severe flooding," New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Pat Callahan said at a news conference Monday. "This one is not to be taken lightly at all."

⚠️The coastal flood threat has increased for later this afternoon and into Wednesday morning for the Jersey Shore.⚠️ Ocean County has been upgraded to a Coastal Flood Warning while a Coastal Flood Advisory has been issued for southeast Burlington, Atlantic, and Cape May counties. pic.twitter.com/FYAiFfRKM7
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) January 9, 2024

A high wind warning is in effect from from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 4 a.m. Wednesday and a coastal flood advisory is in effect from 5 p.m. Tuesday to 10 a.m. Wednesday in South Jersey and the shore.

A coastal flood warning is in effect until 10 a.m. Wednesday in Ocean, Salem, Mercer, Gloucester, Camden and Burlington counties.

Related: Coastal Flood Threat Increases In South Jersey As Storm Moves In

“One to two feet of inundation above ground level expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways,” the National Weather Service said. “At this level … some roads become impassable. Minor damage to vulnerable structures may begin to occur.”

The following school districts and universities have announced abbreviated days and/or after school cancellations:

• Berkeley Township Schools
• Borough of Point Pleasant
• Central Regional School District
• Fair Lawn Public Schools
• Freehold Regional High School District
• Hoboken Public Schools
• Holmdel Public Schools
• Jersey City Public Schools
• Kean University
• Livingston Public Schools
• Manville School District
• Millburn Township Public Schools

• Montclair Public Schools
• Oakland Public Schools
• Ocean County College
• Ramapo-Indian Hills Regional High School District
• Ramsey School District
• Raritan Valley Community College
• Ridgewood Public Schools
• Saddle Brook School District
• South Brunswick School District
• South Orange & Maplewood School District
• Teaneck Public Schools
• Toms River Regional School District
• Union College
• Wayne Township Public Schools
• Wyckoff School District

The following school districts will have delayed openings Wednesday:

• Millburn Township Public Schools
• Princeton Public Schools
• The School District of the Chathams
• Wayne Township Public Schools

This is a developing story. Patch will have more information as it comes in.

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

North Jersey

Tuesday: Rain. High near 48. East wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Rain, mainly before 4 a.m. The rain could be heavy at times. Temperature rising to around 55 by midnight. Windy, with a southeast wind 23 to 28 mph becoming south 16 to 21 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 10 a.m. Partly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 43 by 5pm. Breezy, with a west wind 11 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. West wind 8 to 15 mph.

Central Jersey

Tuesday: Rain. High near 53. Breezy, with a southeast wind 20 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 4 a.m., then a chance of rain. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 44. Windy, with a south wind 30 to 35 mph becoming southwest 20 to 25 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Wednesday: A chance of showers, mainly before 7 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 20 mph.

South Jersey

Tuesday: Rain. High near 53. Windy, with a southeast wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 4 a.m., then a chance of rain. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 43. Very windy, with a south wind 35 to 45 mph becoming southwest 20 to 30 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Wednesday: A chance of showers, mainly before 9am. Cloudy through mid morning, then clearing, with a high near 49. Breezy, with a southwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 20 mph.