Flooding Rain, Powerful Wind, Snow Could Hit Wayne Before Christmas

WAYNE, NJ — As a winter storm heads for New Jersey, Wayne could endure flooding rains, powerful winds and even some snow, according to forecasters.

Precipitation could run from Thursday to Friday evening, weather officials said. The rainfall may lead to minor flooding in low-lying and poor-drainage areas from Thursday night through Friday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Conditions will clear up by Saturday, but cold weather will persist through Christmas, forecasters say. Christmas Day is Sunday.

Weather officials expect 1.5-2.5 inches of rain in the Wayne area Thursday through Friday, with up to 3 inches possible. There's also a chance of snow during that window, but the National Weather Service says it's unlikely to accumulate.

The rain will mostly wind down by 5 p.m. Friday, but some thunder during the day is possible, the National Weather Service says.

Strong winds will present another obstacle for holiday-travel plans. Forecasters project gusts of 20 mph during the day Thursday, before picking up late that night through Friday evening.

Gusts of 40-50 mph are possible around the state Friday — both during the day and at night, according to the National Weather Service. The wind could lead to downed trees and power outages. Make sure to secure any outdoor objects that may blow away, including Christmas decorations.

Temperatures will rapidly plunge Friday across the region. Weather officials anticipate Wayne's Friday high of 52 dipping to 10 degrees by nighttime. From late Friday afternoon into the night, watch out for scattered areas of black ice and potentially some snow showers, weather officials said.

Here's the National Weather Service's latest Wayne forecast:

• Thursday: Rain, mainly after 2 p.m. High near 47. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Thursday night: Rain. Temperature rising to around 52 by 4 a.m. East wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
• Friday: Rain before 5 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Temperature falling to around 29 by 5 p.m. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Breezy, with a south wind 16 to 20 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 43 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
• Friday night: A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 10. West wind 16 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 21.
• Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 12.
• Sunday (Christmas): Sunny, with a high near 25.
• Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 13.
• Monday: Sunny, with a high near 28.