Flood Watch In Parsippany As Christmas-Week Storm Moves In

PARSIPPANY, NJ — As a winter storm heads for New Jersey, Parsippany could endure flooding rains, powerful winds and even some snow, according to forecasters.

Precipitation could run from Thursday morning to Friday evening, weather officials said. But the National Weather Service issued a flood watch for the area that runs from Thursday evening through Friday evening. Low-lying bodies of water and poor-drainage and urban areas will be especially susceptible to flooding from heavy rainfall during the flood watch.

Weather officials expect 2-3 inches of rain in the Parsippany area Thursday through Friday. However, there's a chance of snow during that window, even though the National Weather Service says it's unlikely to accumulate.

Strong winds will also present another obstacle during holiday-travel plans. South winds will increase to 20-30 mph Thursday night, shifting sharply from the west behind a cold front on Friday, the National Weather Service says.

Gusts of 40-50 mph are possible around the state Friday — both during the day and at night, according to the agency. The wind could lead to downed trees and power outages. Make sure to secure any outdoor objects that may blow away, including Christmas decorations.

Temperatures will rapidly plunge Friday across the region. Weather officials anticipate Friday's high of 52 dipping to 11 degrees by nighttime.

The blistering cold will extend at least through Christmas, with the lowest windchills occurring Friday night and Saturday night, the National Weather Service says. The agency projects windchills of -7 degrees Friday night and -4 Friday night for the Parsippany area, but the "dangerously low" windchills could reach -20 across the region.

Here's the National Weather Service's latest Parsippany forecast:

• Thursday: A slight chance of rain, snow, and freezing rain before 10 a.m., then rain. High near 45. Light east wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
• Thursday night: Rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 1 a.m. Temperature rising to around 53 by 4 a.m. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
• Friday: Rain before 4 p.m., then a chance of snow. Some thunder is also possible. High near 52. Breezy, with a southeast wind around 25 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
• Friday night: A chance of snow before 7 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 11. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 22. Breezy.
• Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 11.
• Sunday (Christmas): Sunny, with a high near 25.
• Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 13.
• Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 30.