Flood Watch Issued for 17 Counties as Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms and Possible Tornadoes Threaten NJ

Flood Watch Issued for 17 Counties as Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms and Possible Tornadoes Threaten NJ

Seventeen New Jersey counties are under a flood watch for most of Saturday as forecasters warn that strong thunderstorms could bring torrential rainfall.

According to the National Weather Service, multiple rounds of thunderstorms are expected to move across the state from Saturday morning through Saturday night, with some areas receiving 2 to 3 inches of rain in as little as one to two hours.

"The flooding could be locally significant, which could lead to disruption to transportation, basement flooding, and water rescues," the National Weather Service's New York forecast office warned.

The New York office is responsible for forecasting for the New York City metropolitan area as well as five counties in northern New Jersey.

The flood watch is scheduled to take effect at 10 a.m. Saturday and remain in place until 2 a.m. Sunday. It includes Bergen, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties, as well as northwestern Burlington County and western Monmouth County.

Forecasters expect multiple rounds of thunderstorms to move across New Jersey on Saturday, with some storms capable of becoming severe and producing large hail, frequent lightning and damaging wind gusts.

They also say atmospheric conditions could support the development of a few isolated tornadoes.

If flooding develops quickly or becomes more widespread, officials could upgrade the flood watch to a flash flood warning.

Besides preparing for a stormy Saturday, New Jersey is also dealing with another day of poor air quality as smoke, soot and other fine particles from Canadian wildfires continue drifting across the northern United States.

Air quality across the state was rated "unhealthy" for everyone Friday morning, not just people with respiratory conditions or weakened immune systems. Conditions improved slightly by early afternoon, but forecasters warned that another plume of wildfire smoke is expected to move into the region Friday night, likely causing air quality to deteriorate again.

Check the latest forecast.