Flash flood watch issued for 7 N.J. counties with heavy rain, thunderstorms in forecast

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1. Weather

• Updated: Sep. 22, 2021, 8:47 p.m.|
• Published: Sep. 22, 2021, 7:36 a.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch in northern New Jersey and parts of central New Jersey through Friday morning, with heavy rainfall expected to hit the state along with the chance of severe thunderstorms.

UPDATE (3:40 p.m. Wednesday): The flash flood watch has been expanded to include Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties. So now 12 of the state's 21 counties are under a flash flood watch.

A flash flood watch has been issued for seven New Jersey counties starting Thursday afternoon with heavy rain and the threat of severe thunderstorms that could drop more than 2 inches of rainfall on parts of the state.

Strong storms that could form on Thursday afternoon could include damaging straight line winds that snap trees and pull down power lines, the National Weather Service said Wednesday. There's also a threat of isolated tornadoes.

Forecasters are concerned about creeks and streams overspilling their banks as well as possible flooding in low-lying areas. Fortunately, the Rockaway River at Boonton is the only waterway in the state near flood stage as of Wednesday morning.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for seven New Jersey counties through 8 a.m. Friday with heavy rainfall expected to hit the state along with the chance of severe thunderstorms.

A flash flood watch will be in effect for Sussex, Warren, Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex and Mercer counties from Thursday afternoon through Friday morning. Though rainfall totals in those counties are expected to be less than 3 inches, if the cold front stalls locally higher amounts are possible.

"Much of this rainfall may occur in a short period of time, leading to the threat of at least localized flash flooding," the weather service said.

In general, the heaviest rain is expected in North Jersey, "though a period of heavy rain will extend down the Interstate 95 corridor," the weather service said in its morning forecast discussion.

Any remaining heavy rain will end Friday morning but cloudy conditions are expected to stick around and showers could linger into the early afternoon.

Areas shaded in green are under a flash flood watch from Thursday afternoon, Sept. 23, through Friday morning, Sept. 24. A watch is not as urgent as a warning, but it indicates heavy rain could fall during a short time span and cause serious flooding.National Weather Service

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for seven New Jersey counties through 8 a.m. Friday with heavy rainfall expected to hit the state along with the chance of severe thunderstorms.

Wednesday could also be wet as forecasters say there's a slight chance of showers or scattered thunderstorms on what should otherwise be a partly cloudy day with highs reaching into the low 80s as fall arrives at 3:21 p.m. It stays mild overnight with the mercury only dipping into the mid to upper 60s.

The weekend looks dry and comfortable at the moment. Forecasters are calling for sunny skies and temps in the mid 70s on both Saturday and Sunday. Nighttime temps will dip into the 50s

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for seven New Jersey counties through 8 a.m. Friday with heavy rainfall expected to hit the state along with the chance of severe thunderstorms.

Dangerous rip currents

Although it's not an ideal beach day on Wednesday, rough seas have prompted the National Weather Service to warn potential swimmers that there's a high risk of dangerous rip currents forming along the Jersey Shore.

Last weekend, dangerous rip currents caused the drowning of at least one swimmer and left more than a dozen others in distress at beaches up and down the Jersey Shore, authorities said.

Rough seas are creating dangerous rip currents along the Jersey Shore on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021.National Weather Service

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NJ Advance Media staff writer Len Melisurgo contributed to this report.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.

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