NJ Thunderstorms, Strong Winds; Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued

Prepare yourselves for yet another drastic change in the weather in New Jersey on Tuesday, with thunderstorms and strong winds expected to hit the area, forecasters say. Several highways were already reporting flooding (see below).

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the entire state as wind gusts are expected to hit 45 mph. Showers and isolated thunderstorms, mainly during the morning and early afternoon hours, may be accompanied by locally damaging wind gusts and brief downpours.

A flood warning also has been issued in a number of New Jersey counties as rain could result in flooding of roadways and areas of poor drainage. Here are the alerted areas:

Flooding was reported on Route 208 northbound and southbound in Bergen County on Tuesday morning, police reported. Read more here...

Flooding is also closing lanes and causing delays on I-287 during Tuesday morning's commute. Read more here...

Airline passengers at the major hubs, including Newark, can expect delays from the wet weather as well as fog. It is not out of the question for a gusty thunderstorm to cross these areas, according to an AccuWeather release. Fog was reported on the bridges connecting New York and New Jersey.

Until about 5 p.m., gusty winds will sweep through the New Jersey during and after the wet weather, possibly leading to tree damage and sporadic power outages.

While wintry precipitation will generally be limited to upstate New York, New England and the Great Lakes, downpours and blowing spray from vehicles will reduce visibility and may slow stretches of highways in New Jersey, according to an AccuWeather release.

“Streams and rivers are running higher and more places had more snow at the onset of this thaw, compared to the start of the first thaw,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said in the release.

Here is the forecast:

• Tuesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 2pm and 5pm. High near 59. West wind 7 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
• Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. West wind 9 to 11 mph.
• Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. Northwest wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
• Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22. Northwest wind around 8 mph.

Photo by Hackensack Fire Department