Flood Watch Issued For Eastern Essex County: 'Bomb Cyclone' Could Include 47 MPH Gusts

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood watch for eastern Essex County beginning Friday morning, as they expect as much as 2 inches of rain to fall Thursday night into Friday.

For western Essex County, residents should keep an eye out for "poor drainage and small stream flooding."

The NWS also said that wind gusts on Friday may reach 47 miles per hour.

Forecasters are saying a "bomb cyclone," or rapid cyclone of weather, may develop.

The forecast for the area says:

Thursday Night: Rain. Temperature rising to around 53 by 3am. East wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday: Rain before 2 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Temperature falling to around 27 by 5 p.m. Breezy, with a southeast wind 20 to 23 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 47 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

'Will Result In Numerous Road Closures'

The NWS said the coastal flood watch applies to 6-11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 23.

"There is potential for widespread minor to moderate flooding of vulnerable areas near the waterfront and shoreline," the NWS said, "with up to 2 feet of inundation above ground level in low lying, vulnerable areas. This will result in numerous road closures and cause widespread flooding of low lying property."

The Coastal Hazard Message applies to Hudson, eastern Essex, and eastern Union
counties.

"Vehicles parked in vulnerable areas near the waterfront will likely become flooded. Flooding will also extend inland from the waterfront along tidal rivers and bays," said the NWS.

"How widespread the moderate flooding will be on Friday morning, will depend on the direction and strength of winds through the time of high tide. This will be refined over the next 48 hours."

They advised not driving through flooded or flood-prone roads.