Hot, Humid Weather Prompts Air Quality Alert; Flooding Possible In NJ

NEW JERSEY— An air quality alert is in effect for sensitive groups on this hot, humid Wednesday in New Jersey, and forecasters say more rain this afternoon and evening could cause flooding in tidal areas.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a “Code Orange” air quality action day for ozone Wednesday, as levels are expected to rise to levels unhealthy for sensitive groups “especially in central and northeastern portions of the state.”

People who may be particularly affected by the air quality include children and teens, the elderly, and people with respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema. Experts recommend that these people limit outdoor activities today.

Residents can check the air quality in their community at airnow.gov.

Wednesday’s forecast calls for partly to mostly sunny skies in the region, a humid day with highs ranging from the 80s to close to 90 degrees, and dew points “in the upper 60s to low 70s,” said the National Weather Service.

Storms Tuesday placed a weak front across southern New Jersey "which may be enough to set off more showers and scattered (thunderstorms) today," forecasters added.

Showers this afternoon and evening could produce locally heavy rain and even thunderstorms in southern New Jersey, said the NWS. Related article —Massive Storm Cleanup, Hundreds Of Outages In Haddonfield After Flash Floods

"Tonight, any scattered convection will diminish by 8 or 9 p.m. and then skies will become mostly clear overnight," said the NWS.

A coastal flood advisory is in effect from 9 p.m. Wednesday to 3 a.m. Thursday in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Monmouth, and Ocean counties. Up to one foot of flooding is expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways, said the National Weather Service.

“At this level, flooding begins on the most vulnerable roads in coastal and bayside communities, and along inland tidal waterways,” the weather agency said. “Some partial or full road closures are possible.”

Minor flooding could also be possible on Thursday evening in some areas.

Here’s a look at the forecast through Friday around the Garden State, via the National Weather Service

North Jersey

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind 3 to 7 mph.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind 3 to 8 mph.

Friday night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.

Central Jersey

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday night: Patchy fog after 1 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. 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, mainly before 8 p.m. Patchy fog after 2 a.m. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

South Jersey

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday night: Patchy fog after 11 p.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. 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, mainly before 8 p.m. Patchy fog after 2 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m. Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. 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 11 p.m. Patchy fog after 2 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.