Severe NJ Weather Expected As Holiday Weekend Arrives (UPDATED)

A flash flood advisory is now in effect in several counties now that severe weather is expected to hit all New Jersey.

Showers and thunderstorms, locally heavy, will move across eastern Pennsylvania and far western New Jersey Friday afternoon. A brief break in precipitation is expected Friday evening before a second cluster of showers and thunderstorms moves across the region late Friday night into early Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Pockets of one to two inches of rain can be expected with amounts up to three inches.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the whole state, saying areas of heavy rain arriving later Friday and lasting into Saturday may result in some flooding. Some thunderstorms late Friday may produce locally strong winds.

Newark Liberty International Airport reported that it was already having delays because of possible rough weather that's already arrived near the region.

Tidal flooding is expected with the high tide Friday night. There may also be some minor tidal flooding on back bays with the Friday morning high tide, according to the National Weather Service.

AccuWeather says everyone across the northeastern United States will enjoy one last day featuring some sun and dry conditions before the system brings showers and thunderstorms to the region on Friday.

This is the same weather that is expected to rattle the Plains and Southeast with dangerous storm through the middle of the week, according to AccuWeather.

Here is what the National Weather Service says we should expect:

• Heavy rain leading to flash flooding is possible later Friday into Saturday, with the highest threat during Friday night when heavier showers could move over the same areas for a time. Some smaller waterways could exceed flood stage.
• Minor coastal flooding is expected.
• For the Atlantic Oceanfront, Delaware Bay, southern shores of the Raritan Bay, and tidal Delaware River, the highest threat is with the high tides tonight and Friday night.
• Some of the thunderstorms Friday afternoon and Friday night could be severe with damaging winds.
• On the Delaware Bay and the coastal waters of Delaware and New Jersey, southerly gale force gusts are possible later Friday. On the ocean, seas at or above 10 feet are possible by later Friday into Saturday.

Anyone traveling through the Northeast ahead of the holiday weekend or to Good Friday events will face newly slick roads and limited visibility, according to AccuWeather. In general, the heaviest rounds of rain are expected to impact New Jersey, New York and the rest of the mid-Atlantic.

Airline delays are likely, according to AccuWeather.

In addition to flooding downpours, strong winds could further threaten the region by snapping branches and toppling trees, according to AccuWeather.

Late Friday through Saturday, a surge of heavy, gusty downpours are also expected to move through the region, according to AccuWeather. Flooding is likely to develop during this time in low-lying and poor-drainage areas, and anywhere the ground is already saturated.

Here is the forecast:

• Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
• Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 13 to 17 mph.
• Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Breezy, with a south wind 17 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph, particularly in South Jersey. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 59. Breezy, with a south wind around 23 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
• Saturday: Showers, mainly before 11am. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 65. Breezy, with a south wind 17 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph, particularly in South Jersey. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Saturday night: A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
• Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.