Major Shift In NJ Weather As Severe Storms Return

Dry conditions and lower humidity will give way to a flash flooding threat as a cold front moves through the region, according to the National Weather Service.

Wednesday will feature a mostly sunny sky with dry conditions and lower humidity, the National Weather Service said in its weekly outlook issued Tuesday.

A cold front is expected to move through the region Wednesday night into Thursday, and remain near the area into Friday, forecasters said. Waves of low pressure are expected to ride along the front into the weekend, bringing multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms, with the greatest chances of storms on Thursday.

The National Weather Service's Mount Holly office issued a Level 2 flash flooding threat for Thursday, covering the period from noon to 9 p.m. Rainfall rates of 2 to 3 or more inches per hour are possible, which could lead to flash flooding of urban areas, poor drainage areas, creeks and streams, according to the forecast.

"Flash flooding could result in disruptions to travel for the evening commute. Some roadways may become impassable," the National Weather Service said.

Forecast confidence on the timing and details of Thursday's storms remains low, according to the agency.

Here's the forecast for the next few days:

• Thursday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. North wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Thursday night showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. North wind around 7 mph becoming east in the afternoon. A 30 percent chance of showers after 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.

• Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. A 50 percent chance of showers at night. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.

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