Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued For Mercer County: See The Timeline

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — It's a good day to stay indoors for multiple reasons. As New Jersey endures a heatwave, officials issued a severe thunderstorm watch Thursday afternoon for much of the state, including Mercer County.

The watch remains in effect until 11 p.m. Thursday and includes 15 of New Jersey's 21 counties — all except Cape May County and the northeastern portion of the Garden State.

During that span, the region could see frequent lightning, scattered gusts of up to 70 mph and isolated hail of up to a half-inch in size, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

In Mercer County, there's a chance of showers and thunderstorms on Thursday afternoon. Those stormy conditions will become "likely" on Thursday night, the NWS says.

Here's the National Weather Service's latest forecast for Mercer County:

• Thursday night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 11 p.m. Some storms could be severe, with large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rain. Patchy fog after 4 a.m. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m. Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Heat index values as high as 107. Light northwest wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

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