Severe Weather Threat Increases As Watches Expand Across NJ Thursday

A Flood Watch is set to go into effect Thursday afternoon as scattered thunderstorms approach the Garden State.

According to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS), the Flood Watch will be in effect from noon through late Thursday night.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected to produce areas of heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding, and a slight risk for severe thunderstorms has been expanded southeastward.

As of Thursday morning, the Flood Watch will go into effect in portions of northern Delaware and southeast Pennsylvania, as well as Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Northwestern Burlington, Somerset, Sussex and Western Monmouth Counties in New Jersey.

"The primary threat for Thursday afternoon and evening remains damaging wind gusts," the NWS said. "Be sure to have multiple ways to receive warnings and stay weather aware!"

As thunderstorms approach the Garden State, forecasters said rainfall rates of 1-3" per hour could lead to flash flooding, mainly along the I-95 corridor and points north and west.

Damaging wind gusts will be the greatest threat, but isolated large hail or a tornado cannot be completely ruled out, the NWS said.

The weather service recommends residents monitor the latest forecast and make sure they can receive watches and warnings as storms move in.

Here's the latest forecast from the National Weather Service:

NORTH JERSEY

• Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. High near 83. South wind 6-10 MPH, with gusts as high as 20 MPH. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 MPH, becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible.

CENTRAL JERSEY

• Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind 5-10 MPH. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 3 a.m. Patchy fog after 4 a.m. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 MPH becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

SOUTH JERSEY

• Thursday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 3 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 10-15 MPH. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 5-10 MPH. Chance of precipitation is 20%.