Severe Thunderstorms, Heavy Rainfall In NJ Forecast This Week

NEW JERSEY - The Garden State is predicted to take on yet another rainy week as slow-moving storms in the Midwest are on course to hit the Northeast Wednesday afternoon into Friday morning.

While thunderstorms could start as early as Wednesday afternoon around 3 p.m., isolated flash flooding is possible late Thursday into Friday, the National Weather Service said. Most flooding will be localized to areas that already experience rapid runoff with heavy rainfall.

The mid-week period becomes more active. A slow moving cold front approaches on Wednesday, but doesn't cross the region until late Thursday night/Friday morning. Heavy rain & scattered thunderstorms are possible, mostly Thursday afternoon & Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/r7m4a19es9
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) September 21, 2021

The heaviest rainfall will hit the Garden State on Thursday afternoon, with North Jersey as well as South Jersey counties hugging the Pennsylvania border expected to see the greatest rainfall totals at 1 to 2 inches.

"A general 1-2 inches of rain is forecast to fall with local amounts to 4 inches in the mid-Atlantic region, but a general 2-4 inches seem likely with local amounts to 6 inches from southeastern Michigan to central Pennsylvania and western New York," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

Per AccuWeather, the duration and intensity of the rain will be factors for localized flooding, though the service is still reminding motorists to “turn around, don’t drown” and avoid driving through flooded areas. The greatest risk for heavy rainfall this week will be Thursday in New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., AccuWeather said, although moist ground in the wake of Ida around the east coast could be enough to facilitate flash flooding.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms with dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning are also expected. Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf zone along the Jersey Shore from Sandy Hook to Cape May through Friday.

Here’s the latest forecast:

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers before 9 a.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Breezy, with a southeast wind 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Breezy, with a southeast wind 15 to 20 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 3 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Breezy, with a south wind around 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 9 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., then showers likely after 3 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.