Tornado Watch Expands To 10 Counties As Severe Storms Target NJ

Updated, Friday at 5:38 p.m.: A tornado watch has been issued across Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties in New Jersey. It is in place through 12 a.m. Saturday.

NEW JERSEY — South Jersey is at higher risk of severe weather Friday with wind gusts and a tornado possible, the National Weather Service said in an afternoon update.

The intensity of thunderstorms will depend on timing, forecasters say. Damaging wind gusts of up to 60 mph and hail are possible. The risk decreases the further north you go (see below graphic).

Flood watches have also been issued across the Garden State, according to the National Weather Service.

Thunderstorms are most likely to develop between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., before heavy rain arrives, according to the National Weather Service.

The watches go into effect 7 p.m. Friday through 8 a.m. Saturday in the following counties: Sussex, Warren, Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Mercer, Salem, Gloucester, Camden and northwestern Burlington.

These areas can expect to see 1 to 3 inches of rain that will likely cause ponding on roadways, making some roads impassable, forecasters said. Rivers and streams may also overflow.

The daytime will likely be quiet and dry, with even some sunshine possible, forecasters say, before rain moves in this evening.

Rain will peter out Saturday morning, but dryness won't last. More showers and storms are in store for Saturday afternoon, bringing damaging wind gusts and possible small hail, the National Weather Service said.

AccuWeather forecasters predict the same, along with tree damage and power outages.

After a much rainier than normal May, things will dry up Sunday as June starts. Then, forecasters say things may finally be clear and warm, at least for a while. Read more: Major Weather Changes Coming To NJ Soon

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Friday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5 p.m. Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 10 p.m. Low around 57. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 a.m., then showers likely between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. High near 72. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. Low around 49. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 74.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 79.

Central Jersey

Friday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Patchy fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 10 p.m. Low around 57. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Saturday: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. High near 72. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. Low around 49. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 75.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 79.

South Jersey

Friday: A chance of showers, mainly after 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 5 a.m., then showers likely. Low around 57. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of showers before 11 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. High near 72. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. Low around 49. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 70. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 75.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 80.