Gloucester Township's National Night Out May Move Indoors Due To Rain

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — National Night Out could become a local night inside, but Gloucester Township still plans to celebrate.

The township scheduled several outdoor celebrations from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday for National Night Out — an initiative to improve bonds between police and the public during an evening of family fun. But some of the township's gatherings could get canceled, while others will move indoors because of the chance of severe thunderstorms and flooding rain.

Around the nation, most participating communities hold local NNO events on the first Tuesday of August. With heavy storms possible, many communities throughout the region are canceling, postponing or modifying their respective gatherings.

NNO in Gloucester Township includes five public gathering places and a series of neighborhood "block parties." Two of the public events may get canceled because of weather, police said at about 10 a.m. Tuesday:

• Wye Oak Park (1100 Williamstown Erial Rd., Erial)
• Gloucester Premium Outlets (100 Premium Outlet Dr., Blackwood)

Three of the five public celebrations will be held indoors. Gloucester Township Veterans Park's event is moving to the GT Senior Center. The gatherings at Blackwood Fire Company (14 West Central Ave., Blackwood) and Point Arial Park (2900 New Brooklyn Rd., Erial) are moving indoors at their respective locations.

Residents can attend the public gatherings if their neighborhood block party gets canceled.

The Gloucester Township area has a slight risk of severe thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service. The greatest threats are locally damaging downburst wind gusts that could take down trees and power lines, the agency said. Small hail is also possible.

A flood watch is in effect from 2 p.m. Tuesday to noon Wednesday. Flooding from excessive rainfall is possible during that time, says the NWS.

"You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings," the NWS said. "Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop."

Here's the NWS's latest forecast for Gloucester Township:

• Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 89. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Tuesday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then showers and thunderstorms likely between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 71. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 78. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
• Wednesday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 7 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.