Tornado Threat and Severe Weather Alert for New Jersey Residents

Tornado Threat and Severe Weather Alert for New Jersey Residents

Forecasters warn that during the Wednesday afternoon commute, a squall line will travel across the Garden State, bringing with it severe thunderstorms, strong winds, and possibly even a tornado.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for the coastal regions of Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, and Ocean from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Here, the greatest winds—between 20 and 30 mph with gusts as high as 50 mph—are predicted. According to the National Weather Service, these winds could occur at any time and are not limited to storms. They have the potential to pull down trees and electrical lines and result in power outages.

Tornado Threat and Severe Weather Alert for New Jersey Residents

"The line of thunderstorms rolling through the East Coast will be moving very quickly; thunderstorms are not expected to last all day, but those that do form could be quite impactful," Alex Duffus, an AccuWeather Meteorologist.

There will likely be showers throughout the morning, but according to National Weather Service forecasters, a band of rain from the west will produce the "main show" this afternoon. The squall line, a line of thunderstorms that travels from west to east over the state in the middle to late afternoon, will fall within that band. Rush hour is probably when it will be the worst.