New Jersey could get slammed by significant and widespread flash floods on Thursday afternoon and into Friday morning with rainfall totals up to 7 inches possible.
“Storms will be capable of producing excessive rainfall rates in excess of 2 inches per hour,” the National Weather Service said early Thursday. “Rainfall amounts of 1-3 inches are generally expected, with localized amounts around 5-7 inches or more possible.”
A flash flood watch has been issued for the entire state. Most of the state is under a “moderate” risk of excessive rainfall in most of the state meaning numerous flash floods are likely.
The heaviest rain is expected from 2 to 9 p.m.
A flash flood watch for the five northeastern counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Union and Passaic will be in effect from 2 p.m. Thursday until 2 p.m. Friday. For the rest of the state, the watch runs from 2 p.m. until 6 a.m. Friday.
“Scattered to numerous instances of urban, poor drainage and riverine flash flooding are possible,” the weather service said. “Localized severe flooding may cause an elevated threat to life and property, particularly Thursday afternoon and Thursday night.”
There’s also a threat of severe thunderstorms with high winds.
“Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening,” the weather service said. “Locally damaging winds are the main threat.”
It’s been a deadly month in New Jersey with seven people killed in weather-related incidents in July.
On July 14, two women were killed when their vehicle got washed away during severe flooding in Plainfield, city officials said.
The heavy rain expected tonight could exceed the rainfall totals that night that caused massive flash flooding around the state. In that storm, the highest rainfall total was 6.51 inches in Watchung.
The other fatal weather incidents in July include:
- July 3: Two men were killed in Plainfield when their car was hit by a falling tree on Myrtle Avenue. A short distance away in North Plainfield, a 44-year-old Middlesex Borough woman was killed shortly after she pulled over and a large tree fell on her vehicle.
- July 8: A 28-year-old Franklin Lakes man was struck by lightning at the Ballyowen Golf Course in Sandyston.
- July 16: A 61-year-old man was struck and killed by lightning during a Cub Scout archery event in Jackson.
Until the rain rolls in this afternoon, it will be another warm, humid day with temperatures climbing into the upper 80s to low 90s.
While the heaviest of the rain will be gone by midnight, scattered showers might continue overnight, especially across southern areas.
Friday will be a much cooler, cloudy day with periods of drizzle and rain.
Highs will only be in the low 70s and winds of 10-20 mph that gust to near 30 mph will give the first day of August a fall feel.
Along the immediate coast, gusts as high as 40 mph can’t be ruled out.
The forecast improves significantly for the weekend.
Both Saturday and Sunday should be dry and sunny with comfortable temperatures.
Highs on Saturday will be in the low 80s and on Sunday temperatures should make it to the mid 80s.
Temperatures at night will range from the mid 50s to mid 60s.
“About as perfect and pleasant as midsummer weather gets!,” the weather service said.
Current weather radar
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