Severe Thunderstorms To Move In Across NJ: See Latest Timing

NEW JERSEY — A brief tornado and hail are possible early Monday evening as severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are set to drench the Garden State, according to the latest forecast.

Storms will start moving in the early evening hours, with the main action occurring between 4 p.m. and 12 a.m., National Weather Service forecasters said.

"The best chance for severe thunderstorms will be through the early evening timeframe," according to the National Weather Service.

Initially, the storms will be more isolated and grow in numbers through the late afternoon and early evening, then coalesce into a more linear structure after sunset, forecasters say. This will increase the threat of flash flooding.

The greatest risk with the storms is damaging wind gusts of up to 60 mph.

"Locally damaging wind gusts will be the main severe weather threat, but an isolated tornado or two cannot be ruled out," the National Weather Service said.

Total rainfall is expected to be 1 to 2 inches with the highest amounts along the I-95 corridor, National Weather Service forecasters said. And despite the ongoing drought, flash flooding is still a risk, as all this rain will fall within only a few hours.

Heavy rain and flash flooding are most likely to occur in the evening to early overnight hours.

A cold front will cross around 11 p.m. to 12 a.m., forecasters say, with some lingering rain overnight as it moves offshore. Rain will end by Tuesday morning, which will be quite cold compared to Monday in the front's wake.

Temperatures will rise to above normal by Thursday and Friday, then go back to mild and near normal for the weekend.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Monday: Showers likely, mainly after 4 p.m. The rain could be heavy at times. Cloudy, with a high near 68. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 a.m., then a chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 37. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 53. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers, mainly after 2 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Thursday Night: Showers likely, mainly after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Friday: Showers likely, mainly before 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Central Jersey

Monday: A chance of showers, mainly after 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 3 a.m., then a chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 42. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 57. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers, mainly after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Thursday: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 77. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Thursday Night: Showers likely, mainly after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Friday: Showers likely, mainly before 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

South Jersey

Monday: A chance of showers, mainly after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 3 a.m., then a chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 45. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 59. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Breezy.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.