Severe Thunderstorm Watch Expands To 21 NJ Counties (UPDATED)

NEW JERSEY – A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for all 21 New Jersey counties on Wednesday as the state braced for potentially damaging 60-mph winds and hail.

A severe thunderstorm watch was in effect Wednesday until 9 p.m., with 60-mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail reported in some areas.

Minor damage to vehicles is possible. Wind damage to roofs, siding, trees and power lines is possible, according to the National Weather Service.

Here are the alerted areas:

The National Weather Service also issued a statewide hazardous weather outlook, saying scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected through Wednesday evening. The storms will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and hail.

Storms may also generate torrential downpours, leading to localized flooding, according to the National Weather Service (story continues below photo).

Here is when to expect the worst of it:

• The National Weather Service says the storms are expected to hit between 4 and 8 p.m.
• The NWS says winds as strong as 40 to 50-mph will hit the area, but AccuWeather says they could be as strong as 70-mph.
• Hail is definitely possible with these storms.
• New Jersey should expect a heat index exceeding 100 degrees before then.
• The storms should end by midnight.

Here are the areas that will be mostly likely directly impacted:

The humid air and heat helped to fuel pop-up thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday evening, and now it will cause more heat and locally severe thunderstorms to roll through, according to AccuWeather.

The Wednesday storms are likely to affect portions of the Interstate 80, 81 and 87 corridors and target the metro areas of New Jersey; New York City and Albany, New York; Montreal, Quebec and perhaps as far south as the Philadelphia area and as far east as Boston, according to AccuWeather.

From Thursday to the first part of Friday, a weak storm system is expected to move eastward along the press of cool air, according to AccuWeather. Severe thunderstorms may occur in the warm and humid air (story continues below graphic).

Here is the forecast:

• Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Wednesday night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 2am. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Thursday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. North wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. North wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 30%.