Tornado watch issued for all of New Jersey until 9 p.m. Tuesday

A tornado watch has been issued for all 21 New Jersey counties as severe thunderstorms move across the state Tuesday afternoon into the evening, according to the National Weather Service.

The watch took effect shortly after 2 p.m. and remains in effect until 9 p.m., the weather service's Mount Holly office said.

At 4:49 p.m. a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Middlesex County, including New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, Edison, East Brunswick South Brunswick and Sayreville. The warning is in effect until 5:45 p.m.

The storm was over Kendall Park and moving east at 25 mph with 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-sized hail.

Forecasters said atmospheric conditions are favorable for severe storms capable of producing tornadoes, damaging wind gusts and isolated hail.

A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornado development, but a tornado has not been spotted and one is not imminent.

Residents are urged to stay weather-aware and be prepared to take shelter quickly if a tornado warning is issued for their area. A warning indicates a tornado has been detected by radar or reported on the ground and immediate action is needed to protect life and property.

The National Weather Service also has issued a flood watch for Central Jersey through 2 a.m. Wednesday as heavy showers and severe thunderstorms could dump 2 to 3 inches of rain in as little as an hour.

Forecasters warned that excessive rainfall over a short period could trigger flash flooding, particularly in urban areas, along highways and in locations with poor drainage.

A warm front that moved through Central Jersey Tuesday morning brought a highly unstable air mass and a strong low-level jet stream, creating conditions favorable for severe thunderstorms as a cold front approaches later in the day.

The setup is similar to last weekend, when heavy rain and strong winds battered parts of Central Jersey during what has been an unusually stormy month.

NJ weather radar

Check the latest New Jersey weather radar to track showers, thunderstorms and any developing severe weather moving across the state.

When will the rain stop in NJ?

While scattered storms may continue into Wednesday, forecasters expect the worst of the severe weather threat to move out after a cold front pushes through the region.

The National Weather Service expects improving conditions later Wednesday, followed by a stretch of drier weather Thursday, Friday and into the weekend. For many New Jersey communities, the steadiest rain and greatest severe-weather risk should be over by late Wednesday.

Residents should monitor forecasts and be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions, including localized flooding, hazardous travel and damaging wind gusts.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Tornado watch issued for all of New Jersey until 9 p.m. Tuesday