MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. — The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for large portions of New Jersey, warning that heavy rainfall and thunderstorms forecast for Wednesday evening could lead to flash flooding in urban and low-lying areas.
The flood watch is in effect from 5 p.m. Wednesday through late tonight for 19 counties, including Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Ocean, Atlantic, Camden, Gloucester, and Cape May.
Forecasters say a new round of storms could produce rainfall rates between 2 to 3 inches per hour, with widespread rainfall totals up to three-quarters of an inch possible by morning. With the ground already saturated from recent precipitation, runoff is likely to cause localized flooding.
“Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible,” the weather service said in its bulletin issued at 9:29 a.m. Wednesday.
Conditions are expected to worsen overnight, with showers and thunderstorms likely between midnight and 1 a.m., followed by continued rainfall into Thursday. The risk of flooding could continue through Friday as additional storms are forecast across the state.
Residents in flood-prone areas are advised to monitor local conditions and avoid driving through flooded roadways.
The National Weather Service is monitoring storm development and may issue additional alerts as conditions evolve.