A tornado watch has been extended in Somerset County until 10 p.m.
With increasing winds, trees have begun to fall in Somerset County. Roads such as Pond Hill Road and Martinsville Road are reported closed due to downed trees and power lines, urging residents to avoid these areas.
As of the latest updates, around 500 customers are without power across multiple towns. JCP&L expects to restore power by approximately 6:30 p.m. while PSE&G has also reported outages with an estimated restoration time of 11:30 p.m.
A tornado watch and a flood advisory remain in effect for Somerset County, predicting heavy rainfall and winds of up to 50 mph. Residents are advised to prepare for severe weather and potential flooding.
The area is anticipating rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches, with higher localized amounts possible. This could lead to flooding in low-lying areas and saturation of rivers and creeks.
Showers are likely to continue into the night with the possibility of thunderstorms. Winds are expected to switch from south to west after midnight, with temperatures dropping to around 71 degrees.