NJ Weather: Hazardous Weather Outlook For 7 Days Of Thunderstorms

New Jersey is looking at possibly seven straight days of thunderstorms, heavy downpours, flooding and high winds during what could be a long, wet week.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the entire state, saying showers and thunderstorms will contain very heavy downpours through Monday night that could cause flooding in poor drainage and urbanized areas.

Already, flights were being canceled because of the weather.

Then, rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected through the mid-week period. The risk of flooding, including flash flooding, will increase as soils become increasingly wet, and as river and creek levels rise .

Here are the alerted areas:

There is also a risk of tree damage as a few of the thunderstorms can produce strong winds. Trees sitting in extremely wet soil can topple more easily than when it is drier, according to AccuWeather. Airline passengers traveling into and out of the major East Coast hubs should be prepared to face an uptick in weather-related delays.

This past weekend's rainstorm was only the start of an abnormally wet pattern that will elevate the flood risk in the eastern United States into the end of the month, according to AccuWeather. “A cycle of daily rounds of showers and thunderstorms is likely to repeat on most days this week,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle Elliott said in a release

Further rainfall will struggle to soak into ground that is already saturated, heightening the risk of flash flooding, rising streams and rivers that can overflow their banks and road washouts and closures, according to AccuWeather. “The pattern may escalate into a serious flood threat for some communities this week,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

Here is the forecast:

• Monday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain and frequent lightning. High near 84. Southeast wind 9 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Monday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 11pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11pm. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Tuesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South wind 10 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Tuesday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Wednesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
• Wednesday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Thursday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Friday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Saturday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tom Davis photo