Rain From Hurricane Nate Could Drench New Jersey Early Next Week: Forecasters

Hurricane Nate, which is projected to make landfall along the Gulf Coast Saturday night, is expected to weaken as it moves inland, but it still could could impact New Jersey with significant rainfall early next week.

Nate has pounded parts of Central America with tremendous rainfall, causing flooding and mudslides in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras, where — in addition to the 22 fatalities — many people are missing.

Early in the week, Nate's winds will weaken but it is expected to bring drenching rain to parts of the Northeast on Monday and Tuesday, according to forecasters. As much as three inches of rain could fall, AccuWeather predicts.

The Weather Channel expects 100 million people from across the Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley and the Northeast will get an inch or more of rain as a result of Nate. As long as the storm does not stall in one location for several hours, however, flash flooding should be limited.

The rain comes at a good time, forecasters with AccuWeather note; parts of New Jersey have experienced abnormally dry conditions since late August and early September.

Here is the forecast:

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 78. South wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind 11 to 13 mph.

Sunday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 76. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely after 8pm. Cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind 13 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.

Wednesday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

PHOTO: National Weather Service