National Weather Service Issues Severe Alert for Torrential Rainfalls
New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania are in the grip of severe thunderstorms, as the National Weather Service issues warnings of tornadoes, heavy rains, flash flooding, and wind gusts. The thunderstorms that hit these regions prompted flood alerts, with several counties facing warnings from the National Weather Service.
Thunderstorm warnings cover areas of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties in New Jersey. Additional cells of thunderstorms are moving through other areas of the Garden State, some of which are causing wind damage. Flood advisories have been issued in Hunterdon, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties due to heavy rain. Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties have also been put on alert for potential flood risks.
The storm cells have the potential to produce hail, heavy downpours, and damaging wind gusts strong enough to cause significant damage to homes and buildings. Some of the downpours could be heavy enough to cause flash flooding.
Flash Flood Warnings Issued for Training Storms
In Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware regions; severe thunderstorm warnings are affecting southeastern Pennsylvania. Flash Flood Warnings have been issued for training storms in Lehigh Valley until 5:30 p.m. Slow-moving storms are causing sudden flooding on small streams culminating on roads without storm drains or low spots. The storms also have lightning and strong wind gusts capable of causing wind damage, as well as tiny hail.
It is advised to avoid driving during heavy rain – small creeks can become filled with water quickly during heavy downpours causing life-threatening flash floods. Live radar is available to track the storms on different weather channels like FOX 29 weather sites.
The storm is expected to end around sunset while there will be more storms tomorrow night as a cold front arrives to bring cooler weather. The main threat of the warned storms is quarter-sized hail and damaging winds gusting to 50 mph.
Summer Heat Replaced with Heavy Cloud Cover in New Jersey
In New Jersey, summerlike heat has ended, and heavy cloud cover has replaced it with showers expected to dampen the day. Temperatures across New Jersey will be mainly in the 70s on Saturday, while it would be closer to the 60s along the Jersey Shore.
Thunderstorms could pop up in the afternoon or evening with most expecting not to be severe enough to trigger warnings, whereas some may come packed with gusty winds and miniature hail. Moreover, some showers and thunderstorms may be slow movers, bringing heavy downpours into question.
There is potential for locally heavy rainfall; perhaps an inch or two in a few spots, which could cause some localized minor flooding if it happens in the wrong place. While a few thunderstorms have developed in Lehigh Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania, including some strong ones prompting severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton counties.
Power Outages Reported Due to Severe Storms
In Atlantic City Electric service areas throughout South Jersey, more than 16k customers lost power due to thunderstorms that impacted the region on Saturday morning. Thousands of people were left without power as more downpours predicted throughout the day. Maintenance crews are working diligently to restore power while residents should seek immediate shelter inside a sturdy building if necessary.
The National Weather Service recommends keeping an eye on sky conditions and monitoring the latest weather forecast and storm alerts for any imminent danger. Extreme weather can change status quickly so it’s important not to rely on previous reports.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania are under severe weather alert with potential tornadoes, torrential rains causing flash floods, and damaging wind gusts expected throughout the day. As such, it is essential that residents in these areas stay alert during thunderstorm warnings to monitor the situation closely and take necessary precautions.
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