Weekend Super Soaker Prompts Flood Watch In Mercer County

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A flood watch was issued for Mercer County ahead of rain expected to soak the area this weekend.

The National Weather Service(NWS) issued the watch from 1 p.m. on Saturday through 8 p.m. on Sunday.

A low-pressure system will bring rain, heavy at times, beginning sometime after 10 a.m. on Saturday and continuing through Saturday night.

A predicted 1 to 2 inches of rainfall is forecast within the Flood Watch area which will be in addition to the multiple rounds of rainfall the area has experienced over the past week.

"This is likely to bring several river gauges into flood stage across the Passaic, Raritan, and Rancocas basins by Sunday," according to the NWS.

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

"Creeks and streams are running high and may rise out of their banks and could flood with more heavy rain. Flooding may also occur in poor drainage and urban areas," according to the NWS.

Here is a look at the weekend forecast in Mercer County:

Saturday: Rain, mainly after 1 p.m. High near 47. East wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 4 a.m., then a chance of rain between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., then a chance of showers after 5 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 45. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Sunday: A chance of showers before 7 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Breezy.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.