Tornado warning issued for New Jersey; New York weather radar shows rain

More torrential rain associated with the remnants of Tropical Depression Debby is expected to hit the tri-state area on Friday, days after powerful storms dumped 2 inches of rain an hour, with even the possibility of tornadoes forming.

A tornado watch has been issued for more than a half-dozen counties in New Jersey, along with Sullivan and Orange counties in New York. The watch will be in effect until early afternoon. Check the latest weather alerts for your neighborhood here.

Any rain through Friday morning will be light and scattered, but as the remnants of Debby pass just west of the tri-state area, heavier rain and strong to severe storms will become a problem.

Storm Team 4’s latest forecast

Debby will push tropical moisture toward the coast as it moves northward and merges with a stalled front. The threat for flooding in the Northeast U.S. will increase as rainfall increases Friday afternoon and evening as Debby approaches. Rain and thunderstorms will increase late in the afternoon and into the evening, when heavy rainfall and severe weather are likely.

Rainfall of 1 to 2 inches per hour is possible again, as occurred earlier in the week, making flooding a major concern associated with this system. The worst of the rain and storms are expected to pass west of the New York metropolitan area. That shifts the greatest threat for flooding to the Mid-Hudson Valley, Catskills and Poconos.

Fortunately, Debby will not stall over our area as it did along the Carolina coast. Instead, it will move quickly, keeping rainfall totals in check. In comparison, areas of North Carolina and South Carolina accumulated nearly 12 inches of rain in 24 hours while Debby stalled over our area.

Near the coast, rainfall totals will remain below 2 inches in most locations.

Isolated areas could see 3 to 4 inches of rain inland, in addition to the 2 to 5 inches of rain that fell Tuesday.

In addition to the threat of flooding, severe storms could cause damage on Friday. The main concern will be straight-line winds that can cause damage. Gusts in excess of 50 mph could snap tree limbs and down power lines.

Additionally, weak, short-lived tornadoes are possible, especially in Pennsylvania, western New Jersey, and the Catskills region. However, one or two isolated tornadoes could occur anywhere in the tri-state area, so make sure you have a way to receive severe weather alerts on your phone.

Heavy rain is expected to affect Pennsylvania and upstate New York for much of Friday. In the New York metropolitan area, the period will be more limited, from mid-afternoon to midnight.

Rain will persist until about midnight, and the good news is that all precipitation will leave the area by early weekend, leaving us with sunshine, lower humidity, and pleasant temperatures on both Saturday and Sunday.

Sunday and early next week are looking lovely.

Track any approaching storms using our interactive radar below.