A quick-moving storm dropped heavy rain — and some bright cracks of lightning — throughout South Jersey Thursday night, resulting in some flooding and unsafe driving conditions.
When rainfall was at its peak Thursday, motorists driving along the Garden State Parkway slowed to a 40 mile-per-hour speed and many chose to use their emergency flashers while driving.
In addition to heavy rain, the storm brought hail, in various sizes, through Ocean, Cumberland, Atlantic and Cape May counties.
One inch-sized hail was reported in Egg Harbor City and half-inch size hail was reported in Vineland and Mays Landing, according to the NWS.
Pea-to-penny size hail was reported in Galloway Township, nickel size hail was reported in Absecon and Pomona, and pea-size hail was reported in Ocean City.
Before the storm barreled through the region at about 7:30 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a coastal flood statement Thursday at 3:25 p.m. that would be in effect until 3 a.m. today.
The statement, which included 10 sections of South Jersey, indicated minor tidal flooding could happen throughout the evening.
Coastal Atlantic County, coastal Cape May county and Ocean county were part of the targeted areas, the NWS said.
At 10:19 p.m., a special weather statement was issued by the NWS for Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland counties.
A new thunderstorm was expected to hit the region between 10:30 and 11:30 p.m.
In addition to rain and hail, NWS officials forecast the second storm system could bring wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour.
As lightning will likely be part of the storm, officials advise people do not seek shelter under trees and, rather, move inside to avoid the poor conditions.
Flooding could lead to road closures as seen in the region for the past week.
The NWS said any flooding that occurred overnight would be spotty and minor, but would occur along the back bays.
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