NJ Weather: Thunderstorms, Flooding, High Rip Currents In Forecast

NEW JERSEY - Another wet weekend is in store for the Garden State, complete with a chance of thunderstorms, flooding and dangerous rip currents at the Jersey Shore.

Thursday is slated to see cloudy skies and scattered showers with temperatures hovering at around 75 degrees, the National Weather Service said.

But Thursday’s scattered showers will serve as a mere warm-up for rounds of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms Friday and Saturday, forecasters added, with another round of showers and possible thunderstorms set for Sunday. Temperatures are anticipated to hit the low- to mid-80s this weekend.

“Yes, it will be cloudy and cool again today with showers around,” the National Weather Service Mount Holly station said in a tweet Thursday morning. “Then we'll get even more rain this weekend with a chance for thunderstorms. Not much sunshine to kick off summer!”

As of Thursday morning, a coastal flooding advisory is in effect for three New Jersey counties. The affected counties are:

• Atlantic
• Cape May
• Ocean

“At this level, flooding begins on the most vulnerable roads in coastal and bayside communities, and along inland tidal waterways,” the weather service said. “Some partial or full road closures are possible. Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.”

All three counties, as well as Monmouth County, are also under a high rip current risk until Thursday evening.

“Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water,” the National Weather Service said in a statement. “Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.”

The storm system is set to exit the Garden State late Sunday, though more wet weather is expected through at least Wednesday.

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

North Jersey:

Thursday: Showers. High near 64. Northeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers or drizzle before 2 a.m., then showers likely after 2 a.m. Patchy fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 60. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 77. East wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

South Jersey:

Thursday: Isolated showers. Patchy fog before noon. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 73. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday Night: Isolated showers, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 11p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 67. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 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 2 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.