The remnants of Tropical Depression Fred brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to parts of the Tri-State area Wednesday night, prompting multiple tornado warnings in New Jersey and New York.
While officials have not confirmed tornadoes, a tornado warning was issued around 1 a.m. in Hunterdon County, NJ, and again around 2:30 a.m. in Morristown, Lincoln Park, and Kinnelon. As the storm system moves north, the advisory was expanded to include White Meadow Lake, Rockaway, and Lake Telemark.
The warnings continued overnight in Middlesex, Monmouth and Bergen County. The damaging winds and downpours then moved northwest toward Putnam, Rockland, and Westchester County, NY. Residents were alerted to seek shelter until 5:15 a.m.
Dutchess and Ulster County in New York were in the path of the storm and the last warning was issued there until 5:45 a.m. In total, about nine warnings were issued.
Isolated thunderstorms also continue to be a threat through Thursday morning. Fortunately, there have been no reports of serious flooding and conditions should clear as the sun rises.
The National Hurricane Center said Fred made landfall Monday afternoon in Florida and then moved to southeast Alabama later that night. One death was reported: A man whose car floated near Panama City, Florida, on Monday night and rolled over into a water-filled ditch, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Although it weakened into a depression, the storm spawned several apparent tornadoes in Georgia and North Carolina on Tuesday when it dumped heavy rain in the Appalachian Mountains, and one North Carolina county reportedly received 10 inches of rain.
The National Weather Service confirmed this week that 10 tornadoes struck last month in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It remains to be seen how many are confirmed in August, and more severe weather could be on the way soon.
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The Authority in Time is tracking another system that is brewing in the Atlantic and that may affect the east coast. Tropical Storm Henri could become a Category 2 hurricane as it moves north, but it is too early to forecast its potential impact.
Friday should be a good day for the tri-state area once the scattered rains wears off, though an unstable weekend looms with highs around 80 degrees and a chance of thunderstorms every day.
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