Flash Floods, 3 Inches Of Rain Could Hit North Jersey Thursday And Friday

NORTH JERSEY — Another significant storm, with the threat of potential flooding, could hit North Jersey. The National Weather Service expects 1 to 3 inches of rain to hit the region Thursday afternoon into Friday morning.

The National Weather Service's Mount Holly office issued a flash flood watch from 5 p.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday for Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Warren Counties. The agency's New York office — which covers Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union Counties — has not issued a flood watch as of 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Much of the rainfall could occur in a short period of time, leading to at least the threat of localized flooding, according to the National Weather Service. Damaging winds and isolated tornadoes are possible, with the main threat occurring from Thursday afternoon into the early overnight hours, officials said.

The most likely sources of flooding are creeks, streams, urban areas and poor drainage areas, according to the National Weather Agency. Localized flash flooding is also possible. The flooding would most likely occur Thursday afternoon through Friday morning.

Forecasters expect widespread showers and thunderstorms Wednesday from the Great Lakes to the central Gulf Coast before it moves into the Mid-Atlantic. The storm will continue to move east and bring heavy rains to New Jersey and surrounding areas Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Here's the forecast for North Jersey as of 9 a.m. Wednesday:

• Wednesday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Wednesday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Thursday: Showers likely, mainly before 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 76. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Thursday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Low around 61. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
• Friday: Showers, mainly before 2pm. High near 71. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Friday night: A slight chance of showers between 8pm and 2am. Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Saturday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 73.