Thunderstorms, Heavy Rain Return To NJ: See Latest Forecast

NEW JERSEY — Heavy rain is moving through parts of New Jersey on Friday morning, and forecasters said thunderstorms could develop later in the day with damaging winds and more showers.

The storms will re-energize during the day with heating in parts of the Ohio Valley and lower mid-Atlantic region, and could pack a punch in parts of New Jersey Friday, said AccuWeather forecasters.

"Storms capable of knocking down trees, triggering power outages and leading to travel delays will mainly extend from Kentucky to eastern Virginia, the Delmarva Peninsula and southern New Jersey," said AccuWeather.

The entire length of the Jersey Shore is also at a moderate risk for rip currents on Friday night, said the NWS.

Several New Jersey counties are under a flood advisory for excessive rainfall and possible flooding until 10:30 a.m. on Friday morning:

• Mercer
• Monmouth
• Hunterdon
• Middlesex
• Somerset

"Some strong to severe thunderstorms capable of wind damage will be possible," forecasters added.

Partly sunny skies could peek through in the afternoon, with "chances for additional scattered showers and storms developing this afternoon into early this evening," said the National Weather Service.

Friday’s forecast has the chance for some potent storms, said NWS forecasters, as there will be “just enough instability” for thunderstorms to form. Storms could bring lightning and high winds, as well as intense periods of rain in some spots, said the NWS.

“Temps (Friday) should warm into the low to mid 80s under partly to mostly cloudy skies ahead of a cold front that tracks across the area during mid-late afternoon hours,” forecasters said. “This may potentially spark another round of showers and thunderstorms across the southern half of the area.”

Northeastern New Jersey is under a marginal risk of excessive rainfall on Friday, the National Weather Service said.

“Isolated flash flooding remains a possibility, mainly for urban areas that can experience rapid runoff from heavy rainfall,” said forecasters.

The chance for thunderstorms and showers will continue into Friday evening, but will “diminish and move out overnight,” added the NWS.

The risk of severe weather should ease this weekend, but return "for a portion of early next week."

Will Franklin impact East Coast states?

Forecasters also have an eye on Tropical Storm Franklin, which AccuWeather said will "get its second wind over the Atlantic later this week" and may strengthen into a hurricane this weekend as it turns northward.

Rough surf and an uptick in the number of rip currents are possible in the coastal regions of New Jersey, added the National Weather Service.

"A period of building swells and dangerous rip currents along our coast (are) looking probable as tropical cyclone Franklin tracks by well offshore," NWS forecasters said Friday.

Currently, AccuWeather meteorologists predict that Franklin "and its potentially damaging winds" will be well off the East Coast next week.

"AccuWeather meteorologists currently believe that westerly steering winds will protect the Northeast states from any close encounter with Franklin," said the weather service earlier this week.

Here is the forecast through Friday around New Jersey, from the National Weather Service:

North Jersey

Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 76. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 5am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Light and variable wind.

Central Jersey

Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10am, then scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 10am and 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

South Jersey

Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 2pm and 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.