NJ Storm: Statewide Flood Watch Issued Tuesday

NEW JERSEY - Heavy rain and several thunderstorms are set to inundate the Garden State Tuesday morning after over 1.5 inches were already dropped on parts of the state Monday night.

As of Tuesday morning, all 21 New Jersey counties are under a flood watch, meaning current or developing weather conditions are favorable for flash flooding.

The flood watch is in effect through noon for North Jersey northwest of I-78. As for Central and South Jersey, the watch will linger until Tuesday evening, forecasters said.

“Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations,” the National Weather Service wrote in the watch advisory. “Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.”

Additional rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are also set to increase the chance of flooding during Tuesday’s commute within the flood watch area, especially in low-lying and urban areas, according to the National Weather Service.

Overnight, up to about 1.6 inches of rain fell on parts of North Jersey, according to data from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Other areas in Central and South Jersey saw only around .03 inches of precipitation – but Tuesday is set to bring more downpours.

“Scattered showers and maybe a few more heavy downpours could move through overnight, mainly from the I-95 corridor on east,” National Weather Service experts said in a forecast discussion.

Even more rounds of rain are set to continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the wet weather bringing cooler temperatures in the mid-70s, per AccuWeather.

Sunny skies are expected to return Thursday with a high near 80 degrees.

Here’s the latest forecast, per the National Weather Service:

Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 76. East wind 5 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tuesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Cloudy, with a low around 66. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2 and 5 p.m., then a chance of showers after 5 p.m. Patchy fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers after 2 a.m. Patchy fog after 2 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. North wind 5 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: A slight chance of showers before 2 p.m. Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 79. North wind around 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.