Here’s how EPAWA Weather Consulting sees rain totals from Tropical Storm Fay working out.EPAWA Weather Consulting
Tropical Storm Fay could dump more than 4 inches of rain on the region Friday and spawn a tornado, experts say, as the storm creeps across New Jersey from the Mid-Atlantic.
“A stormy Friday is in store with heavy rain, gusty winds, and an isolated tornado threat,” the National Weather Service in Mount Holly stated in an early morning tweet.
Fay is expected to produce 3 to 5 inches of rain in parts of the tri-state area, which may result in flash flooding, according to the weather service.
Live weather radar
New Jersey’s southern counties are expected to be hit first, with heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms in Cape May and Atlantic counties. Rain will shift to central New Jersey and northern New Jersey later in the day.
Rain is expected to pick up in intensity in the afternoon in the northern half of the state and then lighten up at night, with some rain lingering into early Saturday afternoon.
Tropical Storm Fay is a low-level tropical storm, with top sustained winds ranging from 45 mph to 50 mph at its worst point, forecasters say.
Eastern sections of New Jersey, from Hudson County down to Cape May County, remain under a tropical storm warning on Friday, means tropical storm-force winds are expected in some of those areas.
The entire state is under a flash flood watch, which puts people on alert that conditions are favorable for rapid flooding to occur on streets and near streams and rivers.
This map shows the latest forecast track of Tropical Storm Fay, as of 8 a.m. Friday, July 10. At that hour, the storm’s center was located about 90 miles south of Cape May.National Hurricane Center
Storm location (updated 8:15 a.m.)
As of 8 a.m., the center of Tropical Storm Fay was located about 55 miles south of Ocean City, Maryland and about 90 miles south of Cape May, the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory.
Fay’s top sustained winds continued to blow at 50 mph, and the storm was moving north at a pace of 10 mph.
The tropical storm warning has been extended southward to Fenwick Island ,Delaware, including the southern Delaware Bay.
“Little change in strength is forecast today and tonight while the center remains over water,” the hurricane center said. “Weakening should begin after the center moves inland.”
Fay’s tropical storm-force winds currently extend outward up to 140 miles from the storm’s center.
These are the main threats posed by Tropical Storm Fay in New Jersey on Friday, July 10.National Weather Service
Flash flood warning in South Jersey (8:20 a.m. Friday)
The first of what will likely be many warnings issued today has been posted in the southern half of Cape May County. It’s a flash flood warning, effective until 2:15 p.m. Friday.
The National Weather Service says 2 to 3 inches of rain has already fallen in this region, and some flash flooding has already occurred. Forecasters are urging drivers to avoid flooded streets.
Automated rain gauges operated by the Rutgers NJ Weather Network are reporting 3.66 inches of rain since 3 a.m. in Cape May Court House, 3.29 inches in West Cape May, 2.87 inches in Dennis Township, 2.86 inches in Woodbine, 1.81 inches in Egg Harbor Township, 1.77 inches at the Atlantic City Marina and 1.66 inches in Fortescue as of 9:30 a.m. Friday.
The National Weather Service received a report of 4 inches of rain in Wildwood Crest and flooded roads in Wildwood and Sea Isle City, said Patrick O’Hara, a meteorologist at the weather service’s regional office in Mount Holly.
New flash flood warning (10:30 a.m. Friday)
This warning covers parts of Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean counties, effective until 2:30 p.m.
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NJ Advance Media staff writer Len Melisurgo contributed to this report. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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