NJ Weather: Coastal Storm Could Disrupt Holiday Travel This Week

A strong storm is expected to disrupt holiday travel in New Jersey this week, forecasters say.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for a storm that forecasters say is supposed to resemble a nor'easter, packing strong winds and heavy rains that could cause flooding.

The NWS said it's too early to tell how strong the winds will be, but it will be "gusty" late Thursday and Friday.

Here are the alerted areas:

The strong coastal storm is expected to arrive just as students embark on winter break and last-minute shoppers head to the stores, according to AccuWeather.

This storm is expected to soak the southeastern United States Thursday into Friday before heading northward, bringing rounds of heavy rain to the Northeast and some wintry weather to the Midwest late this week and into the weekend, according to AccuWeather.

Anyone living or traveling through areas from the Carolinas through the mid-Atlantic, New York and New England should prepare for a multi-day stretch of gusty winds and heavy rain, which can lead to property damage, airline delays and slowed and dangerous travel on the roads, according to AccuWeather. Anyone expecting deliveries may receive packages late as travel delays mount.

Standing water on roadways can cause hydroplaning at highway speeds, and visibility will be low in times of heavy rain, according to AccuWeather. Those traveling on highways and interstates should pad their travel plans with extra time and drive with caution.

Here is the forecast:

• Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 46. West wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
• Monday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Northwest wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
• Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 40. Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.
• Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 22. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph.
• Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.
• Thursday: A chance of rain after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Thursday night: Rain. Low around 47. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
• Friday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 59. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
• Friday night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tom Davis photos