Downpours, localized flooding and strong gusts before cold weather arrives

A wind advisory remains in effect today for eastern New Jersey and coastal areas for widespread winds between 30 and 50 miles per hour. These include East Bergen, East Essex, Hudson, East Union, Monmouth and Ocean counties.

FORECAST:

Rainfall may occur intermittently throughout the day. When it doesn’t rain, it’s foggy, and the wind only makes it worse. This dreary and rainy day reaches its peak around midday when a thunderstorm sweeps across the state.

This storm has the potential to produce straight-line wind damage with gusts in excess of 40-60 mph. If the gust is strong, a severe thunderstorm warning is issued due to the strong winds. This storm should cross the state within two hours and after that, rain will continue until around 8pm this evening where it will begin to taper off.

Gusts of around 50 miles per hour will blow from the south along the coast throughout the day, which may cause power outages. For this reason, a wind advisory is in effect for coastal and riparian areas in eastern New Jersey. Inland, winds will be between 25 and 40 miles per hour, particularly during periods of rainfall. Localized flooding and 1 to 2 inches of rainfall are expected.

After the rain stops this evening, the wind will change direction from west-northwest. This pushes cold air in overnight. Lows tomorrow morning will be on either side of freezing, with temperatures feeling like they’ll be around 20 degrees. Winds will remain gusty at 25-35 mph through Thursday, adding to the cold, wintry air. After all, winter begins in 10 days.

The cold sets in towards the end of the week, but skies remain clear with a few fair weather clouds. Highs will remain in the upper 30s for Thursday and Friday. The next chance of rain is expected to occur on Sunday night into Monday, but it will not be a severe storm, just showers.