NJ Forecast: More Flooding, Tornadoes Possible Wednesday

NEW JERSEY — Much of the Garden State is under a flash flood watch through early Thursday morning as heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to hit the region.

Wednesday's anticipated storm could also produce damaging winds up to 60 mph and isolated tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service. As of Wednesday afternoon, the greatest tornado threat in the Garden State was north of I-195.

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Though rainfall totals are not expected to exceed two inches, the weather service said areas may be more vulnerable to flooding after remnants of Hurricane Ida drenched the region last week.

The total rainfall forecast through tomorrow is generally up to one inch, locally 1-2 inches. While this would normally not cause too many concerns, with many of these areas receiving up to 600% of normal rainfall this past week, it won't take much.#PAwx #NJwx #MDwx #DEwx pic.twitter.com/VZ7BKRhL4E
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) September 8, 2021

Stay weather aware today! A cold front will be pushing across the Mid-Atlantic & Northeast this afternoon/evening. Flash Flood Watches are up for parts of Eastern PA and NJ. Strong storms possible this evening from VA/MD to New England. @accuweather @breakingweather pic.twitter.com/9B0vnGUrb2
— Michelle Rotella (@MRotellaWx) September 8, 2021

"Given the very saturated soils from recent heavy rain events, additional brief heavy rainfall of one to two inches may quickly lead to flooding of flood prone and other low-lying areas due to rapid runoff," the service said.

Creeks and streams may flood, as well as areas with poor drainage. Water could also flood roads in low-lying areas.

As of Wednesday afternoon, a flash flood watch has been issued for Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Warren and Union counties. The watch expires at 4 a.m. in the five northeast counties and 2 a.m. elsewhere. The primary window of concern is 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.

The latest storm comes just a day after President Joe Biden visited New Jersey to witness the devastation from Hurricane Ida's remnants. Last week's storm may play a role in potential flooding Wednesday, Gov. Phil Murphy warned.

“We are expecting storms to head across our state later today. Please take every precaution given that the ground in many places remains saturated,” Murphy wrote on Twitter. “The potential for flash flooding always exists with a quick-moving thunderstorm. Do not attempt to drive into standing water.”

Good morning. Portions of the area remain under a slight risk of severe storms and flash flooding today. You can find the latest briefing at https://t.co/JiD09BPJVv pic.twitter.com/zBjBUSVmlj
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) September 8, 2021

During a Wednesday afternoon news conference, Murphy and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan urged residents to pay attention to the alerts they see on their phones and heed warnings related to flash flooding and tornadoes.

"Regardless of what it is, whether it's tornado or flooding, we ask folks to pay heed to that, to stay safe and to not have to be rescued," Callahan said, noting a whopping 4,000 rescues performed across New Jersey during last week’s storm.

Callahan said everyone the state police has spoken to in Gloucester County went into their basement as soon as they saw their tornado alerts, and as a result, no Ida-related deaths have been reported in South Jersey.

While new rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are expected across the state, there could be higher amounts locally.

The chance of rain continues into Wednesday night, when some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. The chance of precipitation increases to 80 percent Wednesday night. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible, according to forecasters.

Hurricane Larry was churning the Atlantic Ocean with 110 mph winds several hundred miles southwest of Bermuda on Wednesday. Larry, a major category 3 hurricane, could cause "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions" along the Jersey Shore and other parts of the East Coast through Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A rip current watch is in effect from 8 a.m. on Wednesday through Wednesday evening in Monmouth, Atlantic and Cape May counties.

"Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore and into deeper water," the National Weather Service said. "The elevated risk of dangerous rip currents will likely continue on Thursday and Friday, and perhaps into Saturday."

Here's the latest forecast:

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2 a.m. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 60. Northwest wind around 5 mph.