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New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is urging residents to stay home and exercise caution as a spring rainstorm brings flooding and high winds to the state. The storm, which is expected to drop up to four inches of rain and bring wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour, has prompted Murphy to declare a state of emergency across all 21 counties.
The state of emergency, which went into effect at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, allows resources to be deployed throughout the state for the duration of the storm. "Beginning tomorrow morning and continuing through Wednesday morning, we are expecting one to four inches of heavy rain, strong winds, and potential inland and coastal flooding," said Governor Murphy. "This storm will exacerbate the effects of the inclement conditions we experienced in December and this past weekend and may precede another storm Friday night."
Murphy is particularly concerned about the state's rivers, which are at risk of flooding due to the heavy rainfall. He is also warning drivers to obey any signs warning not to travel down flooded roads.
In addition to the flooding, the high winds could potentially down trees and power lines, leading to power outages. Crews are on standby to respond to any such incidents.
Murphy is encouraging all New Jersey residents, especially those in Central and South Jersey, to stay updated on the storm through the National Weather Service and the Garden State's Office of Emergency Management website. He is also urging residents to follow all safety protocols and remain off the roads unless absolutely necessary.
The storm is expected to last through Tuesday afternoon and into the evening, with conditions expected to clear up by Wednesday.