Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued In South Jersey

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued across parts of New Jersey. The watch goes through 5 p.m. Thursday. Residents should be aware that severe storms could make their way through the area until that time.

Here is the affected area, which covers most of South Jersey:

The storms come as flood watches and a hazardous weather outlook are already in place through Friday afternoon. Thursday's rain has been predicted to be heavy at times, and rainfall totals of as much as 3 inches are possible throughout the day.

This is the third rainfall event in the last week, and the ground remains wet, while rivers and stream continue to run high.

Also:

• Minor to moderate flooding could occur along a number of larger rivers late Thursday night into Friday, forecasters warn. The river flooding could continue through the weekend, forecasters said when they announced the Flood Watch.
• Roadway flooding along with flooding in areas of poor drainage is also possible on Thursday, as well as flash flooding. Some small streams and creeks may leave their banks Thursday afternoon into Thursday night, the NWS said.

The weather system could behave like a nor'easter but won't actually be one since it's moving from the Southwest, NWS officials said. The storm is expected to dump as many as 3 inches of rain on New Jersey.

Read more: N.J. Weather: Major Storm Could Hit With High Winds, Possible Flooding

"The storm has the potential to be the strongest in a series to hit the Northeast since late March and through the first week of April," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said in a release.

Here are more details on the storm:

• Rain is forecast to overspread central and northern New Jersey on Thursday. The rain is expected to be moderate to heavy during the late morning and afternoon.
• Rain with embedded thunderstorms is forecast to overspread South Jersey and the Jersey Shore on Thursday. Rain will likely be heavy at times, especially Thursday morning into early afternoon.
• The moderate to heavy rain will likely result in some roadway flooding along with flooding in areas of poor drainage on Thursday. Isolated instances of flash flooding may occur, especially in urban areas. Some small streams and creeks may leave their banks Thursday afternoon into Thursday night.

Here is the forecast:

• Thursday: Rain and.or possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 63. East wind around 15 mph. Some wind gusts could exceed 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
• Thursday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers. Low around 46. Southwest wind around 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday: A chance of showers, mainly after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. West wind 14 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Patch file photo