A state of emergency has been declared for New Jersey with widespread flooding and severe thunderstorms in the forecast for Thursday afternoon and evening that could swamp the state with up to 7 inches of rain.
The state of emergency takes effect at 2 p.m. for all 21 counties. State offices will be closed early.
All of New Jersey is under a flash flood watch through Friday morning, with the heaviest rainfall expected between 2 and 9 p.m. on Thursday.
“Beginning this afternoon, we are expecting severe thunderstorms to bring heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts with the potential for flash flooding across the state,” said acting Governor Tahesha Way. “I urge all New Jerseyans to remain alert, follow all safety protocols, and monitor the proper channels for the duration of these storms. Residents should remain off the roads and indoors unless absolutely necessary.”
Forecasters from the National Weather Service say 1 to 3 inches of rain are likely, but localized rainfall totals of 5 to 7 inches are possible.
That could rival the rainfall totals from July 14, when flooding turned roads into rivers and two people were killed in a car that was swept into floodwaters. New Jersey has had seven weather-related deaths this month.
Rainfall rates of more than 2 inches per hour are possible during the peak of the storm, the weather service said.
Here at my house:
Radar as of 2:44 PM:
