'Hurricane-Force' Thunderstorms, 60 MPH Winds Possible In NJ Forecast

NEW JERSEY — A storm packing “hurricane-force” winds is expected to hit the Garden State later this week, bringing with it the likelihood of coastal flooding, wind damage and power outages, forecasters say.

Experts are warning East Coast residents of peak gusts up to 60 mph during the Thursday night weather event. High tides are also predicted to bring localized coastal flooding, as “pounding waves along the coast may also lead to property damage along the water's edge,” according to AccuWeather. Additional flooding can result from melting snow and heavy rain.

Localized power outages are also possible, especially at the Jersey Shore.

“This will be a much different storm across the Northeast compared to what was seen recently,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dean DeVore said. “While the region has seen bouts of cold weather, snow and ice over the past month, southerly winds associated with this storm will bring springlike conditions later this week.”

Even major cities along the Interstate 95 corridor are expected to see winds up to 50 mph, DeVore said.

While Thursday afternoon will likely see temperatures in the 60s, moderate to heavy rain showers and potential thunderstorms are predicted to develop in the evening and overnight, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters advise people to enjoy the warm weather while they can, as temperatures are expected to drop back into the 40s over the weekend.

Here’s the latest forecast:

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. South wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 20 mph.

Thursday night: Showers, mainly after 8 p.m. Low around 52. Breezy, with a south wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half-inch are possible.

Friday: Showers, mainly before 8 a.m. High near 58. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch are possible.

Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24.