Flood Watch Issued For Chatham Ahead Of Christmas

CHATHAM, NJ — Heavy rain, a wintry mix, strong winds and the potential for significant flooding are forecast in Chatham and throughout Morris County in the days leading up to Christmas.

According to the Morris County Office of Emergency Management, a hazardous weather outlook has been issued for Morris County.

This is in addition to a flood watch that remains in effect from this evening at 7 p.m. through Friday evening at 7 p.m., during which excessive rainfall is possible.

Rain showers are expected to move into the Chatham area around midday today, according to current forecast data. Rain is expected to fall throughout the afternoon and continue into the evening.

Forecasters expect the rain to stop just before dawn tomorrow and continue until mid-morning.

As temperatures drop, a small amount of snow is possible. The cold front could produce "dangerously" cold wind chills as low as -20 degrees in the region, the National Weather Service says.

Wind speeds will range from 10 to 20 miles per hour, with gusts reaching 40 miles per hour. The heaviest, most torrential rain is forecast for this evening.

Officials estimate that poor drainage in the area could lead to flooding within the county. Total rainfall amounts of 1 and 2 inches are forecasted with isolated amounts of up to 2.5 inches possible.

"We do have concerns with the high wind gusts that have the potential to impact electrical lines. We have been speaking with our partners at Jersey Central Power & Light. They have brought in additional crews and we will be working closely with them throughout the duration of this weather event," the Morris County Office of Emergency Management said.

In the event that you experience a power outage, make sure the outage gets reported to Jersey Central Power and Light.