Thunderstorms, 'Damaging Wind' In Essex County: See Timeline

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for northwestern Essex County at 4:53 p.m. Saturday, with expected 60 m.p.h. wind gusts and possible damage to power lines.

"For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building" if impacted, said the statement.

The NWS had earlier issued a special weather statement for the county as a whole, saying storms could impact the area with a potential "damaging wind gust threat." The forecast for the Livingston area says rain could continue on and off until 2 a.m.

Check out the local radar to see the line of storms approaching from the west.

The NWS did not issue a flood watch or warning, as with recent storms that devastated towns like Millburn and took lives in Maplewood, Bloomfield and elsewhere.

Special Weather Statement

A special weather statement issued at 4:23 p.m. for Essex and several other counties said:

"A line of showers and embedded thunderstorms will impact portions of Hudson, Passaic, Union, Bergen, Essex, northern Westchester, southeastern Orange, western Putnam, Richmond and Rockland Counties through 515 p.m. EDT..."

The statement predicted winds in excess of 40 miles per hour. "Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects," said the statement. "If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building."

Hazardous Weather Outlook: Storms through 7 p.m.

A hazardous weather outlook issued earlier in the day said storms could continue through 7 p.m. And the forecast for Livingston and surrounding towns said rain could continue until 2 a.m. Sunday.

"A strong cold front will cross the region late this afternoon into early this evening, with a narrow band of heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms along the front. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible with this activity through 7 p.m., bringing a localized damaging wind gust threat. The greatest threat of a severe thunderstorm is west of the Hudson River.

"The thunderstorm activity is expected to weaken as it moves toward the coast this evening, but even absent any thunderstorms most areas will still see a period of wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph late this afternoon into this evening ahead of and immediately behind the cold frontal passage. This may result in scattered minor tree damage."

The forecast for Livingston and surrounding areas said:

Saturday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a slight chance of
showers between midnight and 2 a.m. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Low around 50. Northwest wind 7 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Increasing clouds, with a high near 62. West wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

READ MORE: Tornadoes, Severe Storms Possible In NJ, PA

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