NJ Weather: Thunderstorms, Damaging Winds Possible Wednesday

NEW JERSEY - Thunderstorms and showers are slated to hit the Garden State throughout Wednesday, with damaging winds, hail, rip currents and even minor flooding possible in parts of the state.

There is a marginal risk for severe in weather in North Jersey through Wednesday night as the storms continue to develop, according to the Storm Prediction Center. Northern counties are also more likely to see hail and damaging winds.

The storms developed Wednesday morning and will linger through the evening, according to the National Weather Service.

“We can't rule out some strong to even severe thunderstorms, mainly in northern NJ,” the agency said. “Damaging winds and hail are possible in the strongest storms.”

The northeastern counties are also the most likely to see rain Wednesday with a 80 to 90 percent chance of precipitation, the weather service said. Central Jersey and the Shore have roughly a 70 percent chance of rain, while South Jersey stands between 40 and 60 percent.

A hazardous weather outlook remains in effect for 15 New Jersey counties, with a risk of rip currents by the Jersey Shore and possible minor coastal flooding through Saturday by the shore and Delaware River. The affected counties are:

• Atlantic
• Burlington
• Camden
• Cumberland
• Gloucester
• Salem
• Ocean
• Cape May
• Middlesex
• Monmouth
• Bergen
• Passaic
• Hudson
• Essex
• Union

The silver lining: Thursday is expected to be mostly sunny with a high near 79.

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

North Jersey

Wednesday afternoon: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce small hail and heavy rain. Steady temperature around 69. Southwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers between 8pm and 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. West wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Northwest wind around 9 mph.

Thursday night:A 20 percent chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 11 a.m. High near 74. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m, then a chance of showers between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Low around 56. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

South Jersey

Wednesday afternoon: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 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 before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers between 8pm and 9pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 79. West wind around 10 mph.

Thursday night: A slight chance of showers after 3 am Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southeast in the morning. 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: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.