Hazardous Weather Outlook For Essex County: 'Damaging Winds' Predicted

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Essex County on Thursday, saying the primary threat is "damaging winds."

The prediction calls for wind gusts as high as 25 m.p.h. in the afternoon, as well as thunderstorms.

Skies will be clear at night, but the wind gusts will continue.

Radar for North Jersey on Thursday morning showed strong storms just north of the area, and a wall of rain approaching from the west.

Here is the NWS forecast:

Today: "Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Temperature falling to around 64 by 2 p.m. Southwest wind 8 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible."

By Thursday night, clear skies are predicted, but the wind could still gust to 26 miles per hour.

Friday is expected to be sunny.

The Hazardous Weather Outlook says:

"A strong cold front moving through the area today will bring showers and thunderstorms to the area. An isolated strong to severe thunderstorm is possible with the main threat being strong to damaging winds."

See the full forecast here.