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The remnants of Tropical Depression Debby are causing severe weather conditions across the Tri-State area, prompting a Tornado Watch for eleven counties in New Jersey and five in Pennsylvania. The watch, which is in effect until 10 p.m., includes Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties in New Jersey, as well as Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe, and Bucks counties in Pennsylvania.
The combination of warm, moist air and southerly winds brought by Debby could trigger thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. Flooding is also a significant concern, particularly in areas already saturated from Tuesday's storms. The Palisades Interstate Park is among the areas affected, where the ground has already given way due to the heavy rainfall.
CNN reports that Debby has caused at least seven deaths in the Southeast since making landfall in Florida as a Category 1 storm on Monday. The storm has led to widespread flooding, trapping people in their homes and vehicles, and causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure.
New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJ DOT) highway crews have been deployed across the state to assist with the aftermath of the storm. The state has already seen dozens of car rescues this week alone due to the severe weather conditions.