Flood Watch Issued For Basking Ridge Ahead Of Christmas

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — the days leading up to Christmas show heavy rain, a wintry mix, intense winds and the potential for significant flooding in Basking Ridge.

As a result, the National Weather Service(NWS) has issued a Flood Warning for Basking Ridge from 7 p.m. Thursday through 7 p.m. on Friday.

The flood watch is in effect for portions of New Jersey including Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Warren, and Western Monmouth counties.

"Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas," according to the NWS.

Somerset County Public Safety shared the warning on Wednesday.

Additionally, temperatures will rapidly plummet from Friday afternoon to evening, as the cold front associated with the storm hits the region, AccuWeather says. Read More: Heavy Rain, Floods, 'Dangerous' Windchills In NJ During Christmas Week

The cold front could produce "dangerously" cold wind chills as low as -20 degrees in the region, the National Weather Service says.

Here's the National Weather Service's latest Basking Ridge forecast:

Wednesday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 26. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the evening.

Thursday: A chance of rain, snow, and freezing rain before 10 a.m., then rain. High near 46. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday Night: Rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 1 a.m. Temperature rising to around 53 by 4 a.m. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday: Rain before 4 p.m., then a chance of snow. Some thunder is also possible. High near 52. Windy, with a southeast wind 25 to 30 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of snow before 7 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 10. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 21. Breezy.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 11.

Christmas Day: Sunny, with a high near 24.

— Additional reporting by Josh Bakan

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