Tropical Storm Watch In 6 NJ Counties, Flash Flooding Possible

NEW JERSEY - If you think the Garden State is done with its share of storms this week, think again: Tropical Storm Elsa is expected to impact portions of New Jersey late Thursday into Friday morning, bringing with it heavy rainfall, flash flooding and river flooding, as well as dangerous rip currents and tropical storm force winds, especially near the coast.

According to the National Weather Service, two to four inches of rainfall are forecasted for Thursday afternoon into Friday morning, with small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos, and ditches likely to overflow. Driving conditions become hazardous: locals should anticipate some road and bridge closures.

Moderate rainfall flooding may even prompt several evacuations and rescues, the National Weather Service said.

This is a developing story. Patch will have more information as it comes in.

As of 5:34 p.m. on Wednesday, Elsa was moving at about 45 mph about 780 miles southwest of Atlantic City near Georgia. Here's the estimated trajectory of Tropical Storm Elsa as of Wednesday evening:

Alongside severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall, tropical storm force winds between 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph are likely to cause damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes, as well as break off large tree limbs.

Scattered power and communications outages are possible.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for six New Jersey counties as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday. A Tropical Storm Watch is issued when sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph or higher associated with a tropical cyclone are expected in less than 36 hours. The winds may be accompanied by storm surge, coastal flooding, and/or river flooding.

Here are the affected counties:

• Atlantic
• Cape May
• Ocean
• Monmouth
• Sussex
• Burlington

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Monmouth, Ocean, SE Burlington, and Cape May Counties as Tropical Storm Elsa heads toward New Jersey.

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A Flash Flood Watch was issued Wednesday by the National Weather Service, in effect from 5 p.m. Thursday until Friday morning. Expected rainfall totals in New Jersey range from 2 to 3 inches, with locally higher amounts up to 5 inches possible.

“Further west of the I-95 corridor could expect to see 1-2 inches, with locally higher amounts to 3 inches possible,” the National Weather Service said. “Heavy rain in short periods of time will cause the potential for streams and creeks to quickly rise out of their banks as well as the potential for flash flooding in urban areas.”

Here are the affected counties:

• Atlantic
• Cape May
• Camden
• Ocean
• Cumberland
• Monmouth
• Gloucester
• Hunterdon
• Mercer
• Middlesex
• Morris
• Burlington
• Salem
• Somerset

While Elsa's conditions are presently "favorable" for tornados, it is yet to be seen whether tornados are likely in the forecast.

Here’s the latest forecast:

Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 9 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 71. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 3 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 79. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph becoming southwest 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.