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Tropical Storm Fay brought 45 mph wind gusts, heavy rain and the potential for strong rip currents to the New Jersey coastline on Friday.
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ASBURY PARK, N.J. – Tropical storm warnings were issued for the entire Jersey Shore through Friday evening as a strengthening coastal storm was forecast to bring torrential rain and gusty winds to the state.
A disturbance spinning off the coast of North Carolina was named Tropical Storm Fay Thursday evening as winds reached 40 miles per hour at its center. Fay slightly picked up speed and strength as it moved closer to land Friday, and forecasters decreased projections for rain totals and flooding.
It moved north around 10 mph and produced top sustained winds of 50 mph, forecasters said.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect along the coast from Sandy Hook to Cape May, with damaging winds expected to reach up to 60 mph heading into the mainland, according to the National Weather Service and private meteorologists.
A flash flood watch has been issued for the entire state beginning early Friday morning continuing into the nighttime hours.
Fay was expected to bring 2 to 4 inches of rain, with the possibility of flash flooding in parts of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England, The U.S. National Hurricane Center said in its 5 a.m. advisory.
Forecasters say the biggest impact will be the heavy rainfall that will bring some flash flooding which could life-threatening, as “rapidly rising flood waters may quickly inundate roadways and areas of poor drainage. Streams and creeks could leave their banks, flooding nearby properties,” said the National Weather Service.
Temperatures are expected to range from the high 70s into the low 80s leaving a “steamy, tropical and humid type of atmosphere,” as this will be the weather pattern for the next couple of days, according to Steven DiMartino who runs NY NJ PA weather.
“Heavy rain will expand throughout the region this morning and continue through the afternoon,” said DiMartino. “We should expect to see winds today ranging anywhere from 20 to 40 miles per hour along eastern-Monmouth County with gusts over 40 miles per hour.”
Heading into the weekend, private meteorologists expect the storm to pass by Saturday morning, but will continue to leave heavy rain and thunderstorms on Saturday with a chance of fog. The storms will most likely make an appearance in the early parts of the afternoon and possibly one to two in the evening, according to DiMartino.
One of the main threat associated with Tropical Storm Fay will be heavy rain and the potential for flash flooding. As much as 3 to 5 inches of rain can be expected across portions of the Mid Atlantic and New England with Fay. Flash flood watches have been posted over these areas. pic.twitter.com/x0ncSLBThU
— NWS WPC (@NWSWPC) July 9, 2020
Forecasters have also warned that isolated tornadoes and life-threatening rip currents are possible as the storm moves north.
Tropical storm warnings extend north of New Jersey to Long Island and coastal Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Follow Andrew J. Goudsward on Twitter: @AGoudsward
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