More Rain On The Way For Jersey

Flood Watches In Effect As Storm System Poised To Bring Another 2 To 4 inches To Garden State

For the third time in less than two weeks, a significant storm system with heavy rainfall will be making a visit to the Garden State. The nice weather that we have been experiencing on Wednesday will give way to a storm system approaching from the west, and it is expected to bring anywhere between 2 and 4 inches of rain along with gusty winds. Places in South Jersey could have severe weather including tornadoes from this upcoming storm.

The National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly has put Middlesex County as well as much of the rest of the Garden State under a Flood Watch until early Friday morning. Within the past 45 days or so, the Garden State has seen anywhere from 7 to 10 inches of rain. The previous two rain events: Tropical Storm Andrea late last week, and a low pressure system on Monday brought exactly four inches alone in Northwestern Middlesex County. On top of that, there has been some additional rain this month, and over three inches for the month of May.

Prior to that, things had been fairly dry in New Jersey. While it had been cooler than it was during the first four and a half months with more snow this year than last, the overall precipitation pattern has been quite similar to last year. A relatively wet January was followed by a mostly tranquil February despite the blizzard during the second weekend of the month, and a mostly dry March and April. However, during the month of May, things picked up just like last year, and the first half of June has almost been a carbon copy of last year.

Areas prone to flooding in Central Jersey including Manville and Bound Brook along the Raritan River as well as places along the Millstone River such as Griggstown, will have to be on guard again. The Millstone went up to major flood stage during the deluge from Tropical Storm Andrea late last week, and had been gradually receeding. Wednesday is looking like the best day or the week with the forecast indicating rain tomorrow and part of Friday. With the recent rains, there has been 17.54 inches of rain so far this year at GWC in south Plainfileld. Over 40 percent of that rain has come in the last month and a half.