Excessive Rainfall Expected, Flood Watch Issued For Gloucester County

GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NJ — A flood watch has been issued for Gloucester County from Friday morning through Saturday afternoon as excessive rainfall is expected.

Widespread showers and thunderstorms combined with tropical moisture will result in areas of heavy rainfall across the area from Friday morning through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Rainfall rates may exceed 1 to 2 inches per hour. The NWS is forecasting rainfall amounts from about 1 to 2 inches, however, localized amounts near 3 to 4 inches are possible.

"Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations," the flood watch says. "Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded."

The flood watch is in effect from 6 a.m. Friday to 2 p.m. Saturday. It also includes Camden, Salem, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, northwestern Burlington and western Monmouth counties.

Here's the NWS's latest Gloucester County forecast:

• Thursday night: Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Patchy fog after midnight. Humid with lows in the lower 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
• Friday: Showers with thunderstorms likely in the morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Humid with highs in the lower 80s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent.
• Friday night: Showers with thunderstorms likely in the evening, then showers with a chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Patchy fog. Humid with lows in the lower 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent.
• Saturday: Patchy fog in the morning. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms. Hot with highs in the upper 80s. Southwest winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.
• Saturday night: Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Patchy fog. Lows in the lower 70s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Hot with highs in the lower 90s.