Severe Storms, Tornado Risk Wednesday In NJ: See Timing

NEW JERSEY —A squall line will move across the Garden State during the Wednesday afternoon commute, bringing with it gusty winds, severe thunderstorms and even a potential tornado, forecasters warn.

A Wind Advisory will be in place from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the coastal areas of Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland and Ocean, according to the National Weather Service. The strongest winds are expected here, between 20 mph to 30 mph and with gusts of up to 50 mph. These winds could happen at any time; they are not isolated only to the storms, and could bring down power lines and trees and cause power outages, the National Weather Service said.

"The line of thunderstorms rolling through the East Coast will be moving very quickly; thunderstorms are not expected to last all day, but those that do form could be quite impactful," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex Duffus.

Showers can be expected through the morning, but National Weather Service forecasters say that the "main show" will form this afternoon as a band of rain approaches from the west. Within that band will be the squall line - a line of thunderstorms - that move across the state west to east in the mid-to-late-afternoon hours. The worst of it will likely be during rush hour.

There may also be severe thunderstorms and a possible tornado, according to the National Weather Service.

The storms will move off the coast by evening. Spotty showers may remain overnight.

Here's the latest forecast

North Jersey

Wednesday: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 60. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 48. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 54. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 49. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Friday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Central Jersey

Wednesday Night: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 62. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 46. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 55. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 51. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Friday Night: A slight chance of showers after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47.

South Jersey

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 61. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 45. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 51. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.