Flooding In Cherry Hill? 'Significant' Risks Possible During Midweek Storm

CHERRY HILL, NJ — A midweek storm could pose dangers Tuesday night and make it hard to reach work or school Wednesday, according to forecasters.

Cherry Hill carries a "moderate risk" of excessive rainfall Tuesday that could lead to rapid-onset flooding, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The federal agency expects the precipitation and gusty winds to carry into Wednesday.

The flash-flooding risk could intensify Tuesday night, with the darkness creating additional risks for drivers, AccuWeather warned. Heavy rainfall could interfere with travel in the region during the following morning, according to Jon Porter, AccuWeather's chief meteorologist.

"Some people in and near the I-95 corridor in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast may have difficulty in getting to work, school or other commitments on Wednesday morning due to the flooding and as well as downed trees and power lines blocking some roads," Porter said.

Overall, the NWS predicts 1-3 inches of rain Tuesday through early Wednesday. Urban settings and areas near bodies of water will carry elevated flood risks when the heaviest rain falls Tuesday night, the agency says.

The NWS has issued two flood watches, including one for coastal flooding, for Cherry Hill and surrounding areas as of Monday:

• One flood watch is in effect from 1 p.m. Tuesday through 6 p.m. Wednesday, when "excessive" rainfall could occur.
• A coastal flood watch is in effect from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 4 a.m. Wednesday, when areas near shorelines and tidal waterways, such as the Delaware River, could experience 1-2 feet of inundation. Minor damage to vulnerable structures could occur.

The NWS expects inland gusts to reach 40-50 mph, peaking Tuesday night while gusty winds continue Wednesday.

Gusts could reach 65 mph along the coastline and may hit 60 mph further inland, according to the NWS's regional forecast discussion. Damaging winds, however, are less likely further inland. Camden County is under a wind advisory from 5 p.m. Tuesday to 3 a.m. Wednesday, when gusts could blow around unsecured objects and snap tree limbs that cause "a few" power outages, the NWS said.

The aforementioned storm watches are subject to change. Keep track of watches, warnings and advisories here.

Here's the NWS's latest forecast for Cherry Hill:

• Tuesday: Rain, mainly after noon. High near 53. Breezy, with an east wind 5 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.
• Tuesday night: Rain, mainly before 4 a.m. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 47. Windy, with a southeast wind 30 to 35 mph becoming southwest 20 to 25 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
• Wednesday: A chance of rain before 7 a.m., then a chance of showers between 7am and 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
• Wednesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 20 mph.
• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 48.