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A stormy weekend is on the horizon for the Tri-State area, with heavy rainfall expected to start Saturday afternoon and continue into Sunday. The National Weather Service predicts an additional one to two inches of rain, which could lead to flooding due to the already oversaturated ground in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch effective from 1:00 p.m. Saturday until 8:00 p.m. Sunday for Sussex, Morris, Warren, Passaic, Monroe, and surrounding counties. Saturday could see between a half to three quarters of an inch of rain. Forecasters are projecting more rain in the evening- some 1 to 2 inches, before the rain is expected to end after midnight.
The storm's impact is expected to be significant, with potential power outages and road closures due to flooding and downed trees. Wind speeds are also predicted to increase, reaching between 20-25 mph and gusting up to 40-45 mph. This could result in further damage, especially as the ground is already saturated from recent rains.
In preparation for the storm, residents are advised to avoid flood-prone areas and stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. Local authorities are on standby with high-water vehicles and water rescue boats ready for deployment if needed.
The weather disruption comes at a time when residents will also be adjusting their clocks forward one hour for Daylight Saving Time, which begins this weekend.
Despite the impending storm, there's some good news on the horizon: temperatures are expected to climb from near freezing on Monday morning to mid-upper 60s by Wednesday and Thursday next week.