'Eruption' Of Storms To Develop Tuesday In NJ: Forecasters

NEW JERSEY — Forecasters say an "eruption" of thunderstorms and showers will push eastward on Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing heavy rain, high winds, and even the potential for an isolated tornado in the Garden State.

Storms will move in through in the afternoon and evening hours with the chance of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds increasing into Tuesday night, said the National Weather Service.

There is a hazardous weather outlook for all 21 New Jersey counties as of Tuesday afternoon, as the storms approach.

Afternoon sea breezes might also start some late-day showers and thunderstorms across portions of southern New Jersey, forecasters said.

"More widespread activity will move in late tonight, with the potential for some stronger storms mixed in," said the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly.

A flood watch is in effect for parts of Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties from Tuesday at 3:45 p.m. through Wednesday at 9 p.m. due to excessive rainfall.

A flood watch will be in effect beginning Wednesday at 2 a.m. for the following counties: Camden, coastal Ocean, eastern Monmouth, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, northwestern Burlington, Ocean, Salem, Somerset, southeastern Burlington, Sussex, Warren, and western Monmouth. It expires Wednesday afternoon.

"There are some elements that are in place hinting at the potential for some severe weather late tonight," forecasters added.

In addition to these thunderstorms, forecasters said that the powerful Hurricane Lee will create high surf and dangerous rip currents along the Jersey Shore this week as it continues its path northward.

A high rip current risk is currently in effect through at least Wednesday evening for eastern Monmouth, Atlantic coastal Cape May, coastal Atlantic, and coastal Ocean counties.

The risk of elevated rip currents and increasing surf will last through the week, the National Weather Service said. The building surf could also lead to beach erosion and coastal flooding.

Lee's closest approach to New Jersey is still several days away, forecasters said, and the hurricane may bring increasing winds Thursday night. As of midday Tuesday, the hurricane is currently a Category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds of 115 miles per hour, and spinning less than 560 miles to the south of Bermuda.

“It still looks like there will be no direct impacts to our area, however a prolonged period of larger swells/waves and dangerous rip currents are expected,” added the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly.

The storms moving through the region on Tuesday and Wednesday will be carrying a lot of moisture, which increases the risk of flash flooding according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Benz.

"The moisture content of the atmosphere will remain very high, especially for this time of the year, across much of the Northeast with moisture levels more akin to July-like levels," he said. "That means any thunderstorm will be an efficient producer of rainfall which can lead to flooding for any location that sees prolonged downpours," noted Benz.

More severe weather with high winds could develop overnight Tuesday and continue Wednesday morning, as mentioned previously.

"...expect some locally damaging winds as well as locally heavy rain starting after midnight tonight over the far western zones, and then over the I-95 corridor and surrounding suburbs, including Trenton to Philadelphia to Wilmington, around the Wednesday morning commute," NWS forecasters said. "Localized flooding is possible during this time."

The risk of damaging winds and an isolated tornado will continue Wednesday, forecasters said.

Here is a look at the forecast around New Jersey through Wednesday from the National Weather Service:

North Jersey

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Light and variable wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 64. Calm wind.

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 8am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 72. South wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers between 8pm and 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. North wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Central Jersey

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 67. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. High near 78. South wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers between 11pm and 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

South Jersey

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. High near 79. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.