Christmas Washout In Long Valley? Stormy Weather On The Way

LONG VALLEY, NJ — There's still hope if you're dreaming of a white Christmas, but not much. Forecasts indicate Long Valley will likely get a wet Christmas — hazardously so— for much of the holiday.

The National Weather Service placed Morris County under a flood watch for Christmas Eve and morning — 4 p.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Friday. Forecasters expect the rain to begin Thursday afternoon but anticipate 1-2 inches by Thursday night. Gusts could peak at 45 mph on Christmas Eve.

The NWS predicts showers will continue into Friday before a slight chance of rain and snow showers. Forecasters don't expect snow to accumulate more than a half-inch.

Forecasters predict much of New Jersey's stormy weather will occur in Morris County and northwest in the state.

Flood watches indicate the potential for flooding based on forecasts. Monitor later forecasts for possible flood warnings, and be prepared to take action if you live in a flood-prone area.

Here's the NWS forecast as of noon Wednesday:

• Thursday: Rain likely, mainly after 1 p.m.. Cloudy, with a high near 57. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
• Christmas Eve: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 48. Breezy, with a southeast wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
• Christmas: A chance of rain showers before 5 p.m., then a slight chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
• Christmas night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.