Flood Watch Issued For Maplewood Area

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — After a dry summer, more than 2 inches of rain may soak Essex County and nearby counties Labor Day through Tuesday, the National Weather Service says.

A rain map says that the Newark area may get more than 2.7 inches of rain by Wednesday morning.

A flood watch was issued for Essex, Hudson, Union, Passaic, and Bergen counties from 5 p.m. Monday to 5 p.m. Tuesday.

"Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations," says the NWS.

The agency previously said in its Hazardous Weather Outlook, "A slow moving frontal system will bring locally heavy rain to the region late Monday through Tuesday. This could lead to flash flooding. The Weather Prediction Center has placed the region is a slight risk for excessive rainfall."

The NWS has provided a map of the expected rainfall in the region.

The forecast for the Essex County area is here.

While 2-4 inches would be a significant accumulation, it likely won't rival storm Ida, which brought more than 7 inches of rain to North Jersey towns in a short time, flooding Maplewood streets.

Tropical Storm Earl, swirling in the Atlantic, is not expected to have much of an impact.

If you see flooding in Essex County, send a photo to Patch here.