Flash Floods Possible With Inch Of Rain, 28 MPH Wind In Maplewood Thursday: NWS

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Essex and four other counties, sayings an inch to an inch and a half of rain could fall Thursday.

High winds are also expected, up to 28 MPH (full forecast below).

The outlook says:

"An approaching cold front on Thursday will result in widespread moderate to locally heavy rainfall along with gusty winds. A widespread 1-1.5" of rainfall is expected with locally higher totals possible. While widespread flooding is not expected, there remains a chance for localized flash flooding as well as urban and poor drainage flooding."

For comparison, the deadly Tropical Depression Ida last Sept. 1, 2021 dumped more than 7 inches of rain in a short time on parts of North Jersey, leaving flooded corners in North Jersey.

The Forecast

The latest forecast for the area says:

A 50 percent chance of showers after 8 a.m. Cloudy, with a high near 70. South wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Low around 54. Southeast wind 7 to 13 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Keep up with the forecast here.