WEATHER ALERT: Tropical Storm Joaquin Expected To Move Toward N.J.

>>READ UPDATE: WEATHER UPDATE: Joaquin Becomes Hurricane, Expected To Head Toward N.J.

A tropical storm that could whip up trouble along the East Coast has now placed New Jersey in its potential path.

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Joaquin has officially formed, and could pack winds as high as 65 mph as it’s expected to move toward New Jersey by Saturday.

The National Weather Service has issued its first Hazardous Weather Outlook alert in weeks, saying the storm is expected to track northward off the Mid-Atlantic coast. A strong onshore flow is expected to develop and is likely to cause tidal flooding and beach erosion, according to the NWS (see photos).

Even before Joaquin were to arrive, a separate rain storm is expected to arrive on Tuesday night and Wednesday and could cause localized flooding in areas of poor drainage, according to the NWS.

Various weather services emphasized that the tropical storm’s path is pretty uncertain and could definitely change - and may not make landfall at all.

Last night, Tropical Depression #11 strengthened into Tropical Storm Joaquin, and was located 400 miles northeast of the central Bahamas, according to the National Weather Service and the N.J. Office of Emergency Management.

If it arrives in New Jersey, the storm could develop into a system that more resembles a nor’easter, according to NWS meteorologists.

Separately, a “cool shot” will bring a noticeable drop in temperatures to the Upper Midwest and the Great Lakes on Tuesday and then the Ohio Valley, New England and mid-Atlantic states on Wednesday, according to AccuWeather.

“Afternoon temperatures may only be in the 50s by Friday and this weekend [in parts of the Northeast], which will be a shock to residents given how warm it has been at times over the past couple of weeks,” stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson on its site.

Cities and states at risk of a soaking Tuesday and/or Tuesday night include Harrisburg and Philadelphia, Pa.; New York City and Albany, New York; New Jersey; Hartford, Connecticut; Providence, Rhode Island; Boston; and Portland, Maine, according to AccuWeather.

Photos: Weather Channel, National Weather Service