Overnight rains added to the already swollen river in New Jersey. News 4’s Adam Harding and Romney Smith report.
What to Know
- Most rivers receded through the day Thursday, but New Jersey's Passaic River is expected to stay at major flood stage for days, leaving flood-weary residents vulnerable in multiple communities
- Up to 2 inches of rain was possible in some areas Friday into Saturday. A coastal flood warning has been issued for parts of NJ and Long Island through Saturday evening
- We're tracking the potential for accumulating snow potential Tuesday -- and this time it looks like the air will stay cold for all of us
Don't let these warm temps fool you, things are about to turn downright frigid.
Rain finally took the hint and started to clear out by sunrise on Saturday, but our winter weather headaches are far from over. Despite starting the day in the mid-50s, temps will fall into the 40s by the afternoon. Plan accordingly if you leave the house.
Sunday looks to be chilly and windy all day -- think a true winter feel outside. Wind chills should be in the 20s for most of the day.
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Sub-freezing temps return Sunday night into Monday morning, and could lead to a lot of ice where flooding has been a problem in recent days.
Along with that winter feel comes the risk of potential snow. At this point, the forecast is too far out to predict with confidence, but it looks like there's a chance of snow on Tuesday, according to some models.
Local
Despite the rain reprieve, New Jersey continues to face an ongoing flood risk into the weekend.
Most flood-prone rivers in the Garden State receded amid a dry day Thursday, mitigating their risks. The Passaic River, though, is expected to remain in major flood stage for days -- and with additional rain expected Friday night into Saturday, more water challenges are expected for vulnerable communities.
Gov. Phil Murphy cautioned flooding this weekend could be even worse than it was last month come Sunday.
River flood warnings remain in effect for Fairfield, Connecticut, and a number of New Jersey counties. Coastal flood warnings took effect for parts of Long Island and the Jersey Shore late Friday. Check the latest severe alerts here. Wind advisories have also been issued, with strong gusts expected.
Another half to inch and a half of rain overnight threatened to exacerbate the river flooding threat for areas still soaked from Tuesday's storm. High winds arrive late, too, with gusts likely topping 50 mph down the shore.
High waters became an issue for travel Saturday afternoon for Amtrak commuters.
The company issued a temporary service halt for travel between New York City and Albany around 12:20 p.m. There was no ETA on restoring operations.
River flooding, coastal concerns
Tuesday's storm knocked out power to hundreds of thousands along the East Coast as it dumped a widespread 2 to 4 inches of rain on the already saturated metro area. Many schools were delayed, and some districts closed for the day.
Inland flooding is possible again with the upcoming storm. Thunder is also possible. The worst is expected overnight.
Those near the Passaic River are most at risk for flooding, including residents in Pine Brook and Little Falls. That river could exceed current levels and approach levels -- 18 to 24 inches -- last seen during the heavy flooding on Dec. 20.
As of Friday morning, the river crest at Pine Brook could be historic come Sunday.
Murphy addressed the media after touring flood sites in Little Falls on Thursday. He expressed gratitude there were no reports of fatalities and injuries associated with the latest storm.
Murphy pledged relief to those already in need as well as those who may find themselves in need, saying, "We are here for you, period. We're in one of these cycles, whether we like it or not -- and we just have to get through it."
The Democrat also said that ultimately, the risk level has to change, adding, "We're getting dragged by Mother Nature, so whether it's mitigation, resiliency programs, it's pretty clear we need to do a lot more."
The Saddle River at Lodi, which was among the districts to close schools Tuesday, is expected to continue to recede from major flood stage and should be well below minor by Friday morning. Expect just a slight bump in water levels.
A flood Watch has been issued for parts of New Jersey in anticipation of rain Friday night into Saturday morning.
Winds will not be as strong with this weekend's storm as Tuesday night, but still could gust up to 55 mph on the Jersey Shore. PSEG Long Island said it also has more than 100 extra staffers on hand to assist with any power outages.
“PSEG Long Island is closely monitoring the third weather front to approach our area in a week, and we are once again prepared for potential impacts on the system,” said Michael Sullivan, vice president of Electric Operations at PSEG Long Island. “We have performed system and logistic checks, and have a full complement of personnel who will mobilize for restoration in stormy weather conditions. Our crews will work to safely restore any outages as quickly as conditions will allow.”
There are coastal flood alerts in place for Saturday's high tide cycles, particularly along the South Shore of Long Island and the Jersey Shore.
What's next? Check out the 10-day forecast
Unlike the conditions for last weekend's storm, there looks to be sufficient cold air in place for a more widespread snow event. It'll all depend on the storm track, of course. Meanwhile, get ready for a deep freeze. Check out the 10-day.
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