Nor’easter to deliver a variety of minor impacts

The first Nor’easter of the fall will arrive during the evening hours today, delivering the typical trifecta of rain, wind gusts, and minor tidal flooding, forecasters say. 

Rain associated with the coastal low pressure system will first impact southern coastal areas during the evening hours, advancing northward through the night, according to a briefing from the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, NJ.

Forecasters expect the heaviest rainfall overnight and tomorrow morning, with the highest amounts near the coast, where about two inches are possible. 

“Rain will be beneficial in most areas given the recent dry spell,” the briefing advises. “No river or stream flooding is expected at this time. However, poor drainage flooding is possible where the heaviest rain happens to fall, especially closer to the coast.”

In addition, forecasters expect easterly wind gusts over 35 miles per hour at times near the coast tonight and tomorrow, gradually turning northeast.

The onshore flow will also spur minor tidal flooding along the New Jersey coastline during high tide tomorrow morning (9 a.m. on the oceanfront and Raritan Bay and later in the bay bays and inlets). 

“Expect roadways that are prone to tidal flooding to be closed around high tide. Runoff from the rain and any wave action will exacerbate the flooding. Also beach erosion is likely,” a National Weather Service Coastal Hazard Message advises. 

With rough seas, the rip current risk will remain high tomorrow.

Conditions then improve tomorrow night, and by Friday, skies will become partly cloudy, with high temperatures reaching the lower 70s at the shore, according to NOAA.