Inbound Thunderstorms Trigger Flood Warnings: Latest NJ Forecast

NEW JERSEY - Heavy rain, gusty winds and flooding is possible during a springtime storm set to hit the Garden State just ahead of the weekend, forecasters said.

Several inches of rain are expected from Thursday into Friday night, according to the National Weather Service. Moderate coastal flooding is expected from Mercer to Salem counties, and minor flooding is expected down the shore.

“Widespread coastal flooding is forecast with the Thursday night to Friday morning high tide as strong onshore winds develop. The greatest impacts from flooding are forecast to occur along the areas in red, where moderate coastal flooding is forecast.”

As of 9:30 a.m., six New Jersey counties are under a costal flood warning until Friday morning. The affected counties are:

• Cumberland
• Mercer
• Burlington
• Gloucester
• Salem
• Camden

“At this level, widespread roadway flooding occurs in coastal and bayside communities and along inland tidal waterways,” the National Weather Service said. “Many roads become impassable. Some damage to vulnerable structures may begin to occur.”

Another four New Jersey counties are under a coastal flood advisory until 4 p.m. Thursday. Those counties are Hudson, Bergen, Essex and Union.

“Minor flooding in the more vulnerable locations near the waterfront and shoreline,” the weather service said. “Some roads and low lying properties including parking lots, parks, lawns, and homes and businesses with basements near the waterfront will experience minor flooding.”

The skies are expected to clear just in time for the weekend, with daytime highs near 60 degrees and partly sunny skies possible, forecasters said.

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

North Jersey

Thursday: Showers likely, mainly after 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 63. Southeast wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Steady temperature around 59. South wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday: Showers, mainly before 2 p.m. High near 62. Southwest wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Southwest wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Breezy, with a west wind 18 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Central Jersey

Thursday: Showers likely, mainly after 5 p.m. Areas of fog before 1 p.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 69. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 58. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Showers likely before 8 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Breezy, with a southwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: A chance of showers before 8 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 5 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Breezy, with a west wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.

South Jersey

Thursday: Showers likely, mainly after 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 68. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 5 a.m., then showers likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 57. Breezy, with a south wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 8 a.m. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 66. Breezy, with a southwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: A slight chance of showers before 8 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 47. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.