Flood Watch Issued For Hudson County: 'Bomb Cyclone' Could Include 48 MPH Wind Gusts

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood watch for Hudson County beginning Friday morning, as they expect as much as 2 inches of rain to fall Thursday night into Friday.

The NWS also said that wind gusts on Friday may reach 48 miles per hour.

Forecasters are saying a "bomb cyclone," or rapidly intensifying cyclone of weather, may develop.

When Is High Tide?

While forecasters don't expect nearly as much rain to fall as during the fatal Tropical Depression Ida in 2021 (when more than 7 inches fell in some places), the amount expected to fall overnight into Friday is higher than in recent storms.

When there's flooding in the area, it's often at high tide. High tide in Hudson County is supposed to reach 5.5 feet during the storm at 7:58 a.m. on Friday.

The NWS expects the rain to start late Thursday afternoon. The forecast is:

Thursday Night: Rain. Temperature rising to around 55 by 2 a.m. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday: Rain before 4 p.m., then a slight chance of snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Temperature falling to around 27 by 5 p.m. Breezy, with a south wind around 25 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 48 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

'Will Result In Numerous Road Closures'

The NWS said the coastal flood watch applies to 6-11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 23.

"There is potential for widespread minor to moderate flooding of vulnerable areas near the waterfront and shoreline," the NWS said, "with up to 2 feet of inundation above ground level in low lying, vulnerable areas. This will result in numerous road closures and cause widespread flooding of low lying property."

The Coastal Hazard Message applies to Hudson, eastern Essex, and eastern Union
counties.

"Vehicles parked in vulnerable areas near the waterfront will likely become flooded. Flooding will also extend inland from the waterfront along tidal rivers and bays," said the NWS.

"How widespread the moderate flooding will be on Friday morning, will depend on the direction and strength of winds through the time of high tide. This will be refined over the next 48 hours."

They advised not driving through flooded or flood-prone roads.

The updated forecast, warnings, and watches for Hudson County can be found here.