Flash Flood Watch In Princeton As Another Round Of Rains Expected

PRINCETON, NJ — Another round of heavy rain is expected for New Jersey one week after the remnants of Hurricane Ida brought tornadoes and flooding to the region.

The National Weather Service warns that heavy rainfall could hit the Garden State on Wednesday, bringing with it severe thunderstorms, hail, and dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning.

On Tuesday, a flash flood watch was issued for Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Warren, and Union counties.

Wednesday's anticipated storm also brings the threat of damaging winds and isolated tornadoes, the National Weather Service said.

In Princeton, a flash flood watch remains in effect from Wednesday afternoon through late night.

“Given the very saturated soils from recent heavy rain events, additional brief heavy rainfall of one to two inches may quickly lead to flooding of flood-prone and other low-lying areas due to rapid runoff,” the Princeton Police Department said in a Facebook post.

The department will be updating residents so they can prepare in event of heavy rains.

Tropical storm Ida wreaked havoc in Princeton last week, with multiple roads flooded and a number of emergency evacuations taking place.

The Princeton Department of Emergency and Safety Services released a video of an emergency evacuation to dissuade motorists from driving through flooded roads and around barricades.

The Storm damage survey team confirmed an EF-0 tornado touched down Princeton, with estimated peak winds up to 75 mph during the storm last week.

Read More Here: EF-0 Tornado Confirmed In Princeton During Ida Storm

Read More Here: Evacuations, State Of Emergency: Ida Slams Mercer County

Read More Here: VIDEO: Helicopter Rescues Princeton Man From Ida Flooding

Last Thursday, all of the main roads in and out of Princeton were flooded and closed. Quaker Road still remains closed due to storm damage.

On Tuesday, Hurricane Larry was churning the Atlantic Ocean with 115 mph winds several hundred miles southwest of Bermuda. Larry, a major category 3 hurricane, could cause "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions" along the Jersey Shore and other parts of the East Coast by the middle of this week, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Here's the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday:

Wednesday: A chance of showers between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Storms could produce heavy rain. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Wednesday night: Showers and thunderstorms, before 2 a.m. Storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday: Chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. The night will be mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 59.

(With reporting from Kimberlee Bongard, Patch Staff)

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