As New Jersey continues to deal with flooding from Tuesday’s heavy rains, forecasters are eyeing two more storm threats with more heavy rain and wind gusts up to 60 mph Friday and the potential snow or a wintry mix on Tuesday as temperatures plunge over the weekend.
Moderate to heavy rain is expected to push in late Friday afternoon and is likely to exacerbate or lead to flooding near rivers and along the Jersey Shore, the National Weather Service said. Some rivers may not crest until Friday. Minor to moderate coastal flooding is also likely.
The Passaic River flooded overnight in the Singac section of Little Falls. This is a home at the foot of Garrabrant Avenue. As of 7 a.m. Thursday, the river was seeping into the backyards of homes along Riverview Circle, but that road remains open and passable.
Forecasters are calling for a half inch to 1 inch of rain along the I-95 corridor and points to the south and east. Areas north and west of I-95 can expected to get an 1 to 1.5 inches of rain with up 2 to inches possible where the heaviest of the rain falls, the weather service said in its morning forecast update.
Winds could gust up to 50 to 60 mph along the Jersey Shore and 40 to 50 mph inland. Highs on Friday will be in the 40s.
Rain could continue through Saturday morning, but winds will have diminished by then.
Another round of heavy rain and high winds is expected to hit New Jersey on Friday afternoon and evening. Another 1 to 1.5 inches of rain could fall in areas of the state already seeing flooding.
Saturday should be quite mild for mid-January with sunny skies and highs in the mid 50s. Temperatures turn sharply colder at night — falling into the mid-to-upper 20s as arctic air pushes into the region.
Sunday and Monday will be dry but highs will be mainly in the 30s with overnight temps plunging into the high teens and 20s.
The second storm threat arrives Tuesday and “we may see accumulating snow across the region,” the weather service said.
The weather service’s Mount Holly office which covers most of New Jersey says there’s a 50% chance of at least an inch of accumulating snow. The weather service’s New York office, which provides forecasts for Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Union and Passaic counties says that while snow is likely, it’s too early to offer amounts.
AccuWeather.com says there’s “potential for an expanding wintry precipitation zone” which reaches states that include New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York on Tuesday into Wednesday.
For today, flood warning remain in effect for parts of Bergen, Burlington, Morris, Passaic and Somerset counties as river flooding continues to occur or is expected to take place later Thursday. Less than 10,000 homes and businesses remain without power as of 7 a.m. Thursday.
Thursday’s forecast calls for sunny skies and highs in the 40s.
Thursday will be dry and sunny in New Jersey with highs mainly in the mid to upper 40s.
Current weather radar
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
