Hurricane Ian's Impact On NJ: Torrential Rains, Flooding, High Gusts In Forecast

NEW JERSEY — As Hurricane Ian batters South Carolina, New Jersey awaits the storm's impact. Cooler weather, steady rain and strong wind gusts could cause power outages, flooding and generally "miserable" conditions in parts of the state, AccuWeather predicts.

Rain will spread into New Jersey late Friday afternoon and evening, but the heaviest precipitation will fall Friday night into Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

The agency expects additional periods of light rain to linger through at least Sunday. Northeast winds of 10-20 mph could gust up to 30 mph over the weekend for much of the state, the weather service says.

Things could get a bit harsher on the Jersey Shore though, with 3-4 inches of rain predicted along much of the coastline. Additionally, Cape May and Atlantic Counties gusts could reach 40-45 mph Sunday afternoon and night, according to the National Weather Service's hazardous weather outlook for the area.

Check AccuWeather's New Jersey radar.

Heavy rain may lead to localized flooding throughout South Jersey through Saturday, while minor tidal flooding could occur during Saturday's and Sunday's afternoon cycles.

From Saturday through Tuesday, beaches along New Jersey's coastline may erode, according to AccuWeather.

North Jersey has lower rainfall predictions for the weekend, with the National Weather Service anticipating 2 inches or lower above the Interstate 95 corridor.

Sunny skies should return Wednesday, according to weather officials.

Here's the National Weather Service's latest North Jersey forecast:

• Friday night: A 50 percent chance of rain after 2 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 53. Northeast wind 7 to 9 mph.
• Saturday: Rain likely, mainly after 8 a.m. Cloudy, with a steady temperature around 57. Northeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.
• Saturday night: Rain likely, mainly before 2 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 55. Northeast wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.
• Sunday: A chance of rain before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Northeast wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
• Sunday night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
• Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 61.
• Monday night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.
• Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 63.
• Tuesday night: A 30 percent chance of showers before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.

Here's the agency's latest South Jersey forecast:

• Friday night: Rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 5 a.m. Low around 62. Breezy, with a northeast wind around 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.
• Saturday: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 68. Breezy, with an east wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.
• Saturday night: Rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 61. Breezy, with a northeast wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
• Sunday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 65. Windy, with a northeast wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.
• Sunday night: Rain likely, mainly before 2 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 56. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
• Monday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
• Monday night: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Tuesday: Showers likely, mainly before 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Tuesday night: A chance of showers before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.