NJ Weather: Severe Thunderstorm Watch In Several NJ Counties

NEW JERSEY – A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect in several New Jersey counties now that 60-mph winds and hail are in the latest forecast.

The National Weather Service says damaging winds could cause some trees and large branches to fall. This could injure those outdoors as well as damage homes and vehicles.

Roadways may become blocked by downed trees. Localized power outages are possible. Unsecured light objects may become projectiles, the NWSsats.

The stormy weather is expected to impact counties in Central and South Jersey. Here are the alerted areas:

Forecasters have also released a timeline for severe weather and 60-mph winds and thunderstorms that could impact the region until the weekend.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook, saying more widespread showers and thunderstorms storms are expected later Thursday. Some storms on Thursday could be strong to severe, bringing hail and heavy rain that could cause flooding.

The National Weather Service says the winds on Thursday could be potentially damaging and cause power outages. A flash flood watch was also issued for parts of the area.

Here is what is expected:

• Thunderstorms with damaging winds are expected to hit after 4 p.m. Those storms could produce heavy rainfall.
• The bulk of the thunderstorms, packing 60-mph wind gusts, will hit after 6 p.m. and could last several hours.
• The flood risk is elevated because of saturated ground from previous rainfall.

AccuWeather meteorologists say that isolated incidents of thunderstorms with damaging winds and the potential for brief urban flooding will be possible. The risk of flash flooding is a bit higher than average at this point for the parts of the mid-Atlantic where the bulk of the rain from last weekend's storm occurred, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombek said.

Another aspect of the weather pattern will be the potential for locally robust thunderstorms, according to AccuWeather. While widespread severe thunderstorms are not expected, some of the storms could become strong enough to bring brief gusty winds from North Carolina to New York state on Thursday, AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda said.

Some of those storms could continue into Friday, particularly later in the day, according to AccuWeather:

Here is the forecast:

• Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 11 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Cloudy, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Thursday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 3 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.