Flood Watch Expands As Storms Prepare To Drench NJ: Latest Updates

Flood Watches have expanded across the state as storms, triple digit temperatures and poor air quality all threaten the Garden State as the latest rainy, stormy period moves in, according to the latest forecast.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop in the evening, according to the National Weather Service, with locally heavy rainfall that could cause more flash flooding after the state was ravaged earlier this week. Read more: 2 Dead, Homes Destroyed, Dozens Pulled From NJ Flood Waters: Latest Updates

The Flood Watches are in effect from 3 p.m. until late Wednesday in Salem, Gloucester, northwestern Burlington, Sussex, Warren, Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex and Mercer counties.

Storms are not likely to be too severe, but isolated damaging wind gusts are a threat.

Temperatures will also get warmer, especially on Thursday. "Heat and humidity for the week will peak on Thursday, along with continued unsettled weather including daily chances of showers and thunderstorms through Friday," National Weather Service forecasters said.

A Heat Advisory will be in place for all of New Jersey from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday with heat index values of up to 105 degrees expected.

The heat and humidity has prompted an air quality alert throughout the Garden State.

Locally heavy rainfall will be possible again, but the risk of flash flooding will be lessened.

"It should be noted that there is a great deal of uncertainty regarding timing and coverage of convection on Thursday," the National Weather Service said. "Tonight's activity could linger into Thursday morning, which would limit any convection until much later in the day or into the evening."

Here's the latest forecast:

North Jersey

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 11 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Sunday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Central Jersey

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 100. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Sunday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

South Jersey

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. 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.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: A chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 102. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Friday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then a slight chance of showers between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Sunday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.