Evening Part Of Downtown Event Postponed; Westfield Sends Alert About Flood Risk

WESTFIELD, NJ — Now that a flash flood watch was issued for Union County through Friday morning, Downtown Westfield has postponed the nighttime portion of its Girls' Night Out event. The daytime portion is still on, and the evening portion will take place Thursday, Sept. 30.

READ MORE: Downtown Westfield Event, Girls' Night Out, Returns Thursday

Also, the Westfield Police sent this alert Thursday: "Showers and thunderstorms are expected ahead and along a slow moving cold front this afternoon through early Friday. There is a flash flood watch in effect from 4 p.m. this afternoon until 8 a.m. Friday across NE NJ, NYC, Nassau County NY, Fairfield County CT and the Lower Hudson Valley. There is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms as well."

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for Union, Hudson, Passaic, Bergen, and Essex counties from 4 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Friday.

The rain predicted for Thursday night is up to two inches, about a fifth of what spotters say fell in Union County during the dangerous Tropical Depression Ida, but a significant amount if it falls quickly.

The Thursday night forecast says, "Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Low around 59. South wind 7 to 11 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible."

The updated forecast is here.

The last severe storm in the area, Tropical Depression Ida, caused at least 30 deaths in New Jersey, news outlets reported. There were rescues and mass flooding in Westfield, Cranford, and elsewhere in Union and Essex counties.

Now, forecasters are keeping an eye on the newly formed Hurricane Sam, which, if headed toward the East Coast, is at least a week away. Track Hurricane Sam here.

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