Hail, Heavy Winds: Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued In 8 NJ Counties

NEW JERSEY — Up to quarter-sized hail, winds up to 65 mph and lightning strikes are possible in the Garden State Thursday as eight counties have been put under a severe thunderstorm watch.

The watch extends to 9 p.m. in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem counties, per the National Weather Service.

Local forecaster NorEasterNick said that an isolated tornado could not be ruled out.

"As the front crosses the Appalachians on Thursday, there will be enough daytime heating to allow showers and thunderstorms to rebound in the mid-Atlantic corridor from North Carolina to southeastern New York," Accuweather says. "Some of the storms will become borderline severe with hail and damaging wind gusts."

New Jersey can also expect temperatures in the upper 70s to mid 80s Thursday, with high humidity as well, forecasters said.

The rain will taper off by early Thursday evening, bringing lower dew points and clear skies by Friday morning.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 83. Southwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 11pm. Low around 67. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Light west wind becoming southwest 8 to 13 mph in the morning.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. West wind 7 to 13 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 79. West wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Central Jersey

Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Some of the storms could be severe. High near 85. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 65. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. West wind 5 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 80. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

South Jersey

Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Some of the storms could be severe. High near 86. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11pm. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 66. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. West wind 5 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 81. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.