New Jersey Weather: Updated rain forecast due to tropical storm system

While Tuesday is likely to remain dry across much of New Jersey, the first rain in more than a week is expected to arrive sometime in the next three days.

While a low-pressure system that has drenched parts of the North Carolina coast with 15 to 20 inches of rain won’t have anywhere near that kind of impact on New Jersey, that system could converge with a secondary low-pressure system to bring some precipitation to New Jersey through at least Thursday, forecasters say.

A half-inch or less of rain is possible in areas of South Jersey near the coast Tuesday night into Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

If the secondary low moves closer to the coast, more rain is possible, but models are currently indicating otherwise, the weather service said in its morning forecast analysis.

On Wednesday, there is a 50% chance of rain during the day with lower percentages at night and into Thursday. Both days are expected to be mostly cloudy.

There is only a 20% chance of precipitation Wednesday night into Thursday night, “as things have trended a bit drier. Rainfall amounts have also trended down,” the weather service said, noting that “amounts decrease fairly quickly as you move away from the coast.”

The weather service said unsettled weather would continue and with a low “meandering” off the coast, showers could not be completely ruled out on Thursday.

There is a high risk of rip currents on New Jersey ocean beaches through Wednesday.

Temperatures will be in the 70s during the day and drop to the low 60s at night for the next three days.

A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect from 7 p.m. Tuesday through 1 a.m. Wednesday for Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties. There is also a risk of minor flooding and isolated flooding along the Jersey Shore.

Overall, there is little risk of flooding due to dry conditions that have persisted for days, forecasters say.

Current weather radar

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You can contact Jeff Goldman at [email protected].