Live N.J. weather updates: Severe thunderstorms slam state with small hail, heavy rain, damaging winds

NJ weather 7-31-19

Dark storm clouds are looming over parts of New Jersey, with the threat of strong thunderstorms popping up late Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday night.Kevin Shea | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Here we go again! Another steamy summer day is being disrupted by waves of strong thunderstorms that have been popping up in parts of New Jersey.

Some of the storms are pelting the region with torrential downpours, small hail and fierce winds strong enough to blow down trees and power lines — prompting the National Weather Service to issue a series of watches and warnings in several counties late Wednesday afternoon.

Five New Jersey counties — Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union — are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m. Wednesday, along with New York City. The other 16 counties in New Jersey are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m.

UPDATE (9:10 p.m. Wednesday): The severe thunderstorm watch has been lifted for Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties. No more storm watches or warnings remain in effect in New Jersey at this time. However, a few bands of heavy rain showers continue to move slowly through parts of South Jersey, and one band of rain is heading towards Mercer County.

UPDATE (8:05 p.m. Wednesday): The severe thunderstorm watch has been lifted for Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties.

The watch means conditions are favorable for severe storms to develop.

Forecasters said wind shear and instability in the atmosphere are two of the factors playing a role in the formation of today’s thunderstorms, particularly in northern New Jersey. The afternoon heat and high humidity helped to fuel the storms.

One storm cell that moved through parts of Hunterdon, Morris and Somerset counties at about 4 p.m. dropped pea-sized hail in the Whippany section of Hanover Township. Another cell is pushing across those counties, as well as Middlesex County, as of 4:35 p.m., prompting a severe thunderstorm warning.

Update (7:30 p.m. Wednesday): Some isolated showers and thunderstorms continue moving through eastern Pennsylvania and into parts of southern New Jersey at this hour, but none of them are packing strong enough winds to trigger additional storm warnings, according to the National Weather Service’s regional forecast office in Mount Holly.

“There’s still some (storm activity) around, but the severity looks like it’s on the lower side,” said meteorologist Mike Gorse. The biggest threat during the next few hours will likely be isolated pockets of heavy rain, he noted.

Update (7:20 p.m. Wednesday): The number of power outages grew to 6,350 homes and businesses shortly before 7 p.m., but the number has dropped to about 4,450 as of 7:20 p.m.

UPDATE (6:35 p.m. Wednesday): The severe thunderstorm watch has been lifted for Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties. It remains active until 9 p.m. for Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union, and until 10 p.m. for Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem.

Update (6:15 p.m. Wednesday): More than 6,000 homes and businesses in Central New Jersey have lost their power as of 6:15 p.m., according to outage reports from the state’s utility companies. Most of those outages are confined to Bethlehem Township and Lebanon Township in Hunterdon County and Washington Township in Morris County.

Update (5:45 p.m. Wednesday): A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Essex, Hudson and Union counties, as well as Staten Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens in New York City, effective until 6:30 p.m.

Update (5 p.m. Wednesday): As of 5 p.m., a strong thunderstorm was moving through the Plainfield area of Union County, moving east at 35 mph and packing winds of 40 mph. Although a warning has not been issued for this storm, the National Weather Service said strong winds, frequent lightning and half-inch hail could hit parts of Union, Essex and Hudson, including Newark, Elizabeth, Bayonne, Plainfield, Bloomfield, Linden, Orange, Summit, Millburn, Harrison, Kearny, Clark and Union.

The chart below shows the latest thunderstorm warnings and flood alerts that are active in the Garden State.

Flash flood safety tips

Safety tips from the National Weather Service.National Weather Service

Storm safety tips

A quick reminder: If your area is under a severe thunderstorm warning, weather experts say you should seek shelter in a sturdy building and avoid being outside, because there’s a risk of getting struck by lightning or hit by fallen tree limbs or blowing debris.

If you are driving, avoid streets that appear to be flooded, and stay away from flood-prone areas such as stream beds, drainage ditches or culverts.

“Never drive your car into water of unknown depth,” the National Weather Service says. “Most flash flood deaths occur when people drive their vehicles into flood waters. Remember: Turn Around, Don't Drown!”

If you encounter high water levels and your vehicle stalls, the weather service says you should abandon your car “immediately and seek higher ground. Flood water may rise quickly, cover the vehicle and sweep it away.”

Live weather radar

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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