FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE: Nasty nor'easter hits with dangerous wind gusts, flooding, snow

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N.J. weather turns stormy Thursday night into Saturday

UPDATE: How hellish is your Friday commute going to be?

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A powerful and unpredictable nor'easter storm is expected to hit New Jersey Thursday night with drenching rain, flooding, dangerous winds and the potential for whiteout conditions where rain changes over to snow.

The National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch from 7 a.m. Friday until 7 a.m. Saturday with gusts now expected to top 60 mph, according to the latest update Thursday morning.

UPDATE (3:30 p.m. Thursday): The high wind watch has been upgraded to a high wind warning in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties. The warning is effective from 11 a.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Saturday.

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Accuweather

Strong winds to top 60 mph in March storm

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Latest maximum wind gust forecast from @NWS now has some 60+ mph wind gusts. Going to be very windy. pic.twitter.com/aot8FUokBR — Gary Szatkowski (@GarySzatkowski) March 1, 2018

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"Winds will be one of the biggest impacts of this storm," the National Weather Service said in its morning forecast discussion. "Widespread gusts 50-60 mph should be expected during the height of the winds (late Friday morning to Friday evening), with gusts above 60 mph likely near the coast."

Downed trees and power outages should be expected.

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National Weather Service

How much rain is expected to fall in N.J.?

VIDEO: Storm forecast update: 3 p.m. Thursday



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Rainfall predictions for North Jersey

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Flood watches have also been issued for much of the state with up to 3 inches of rain possible in some spots. Nearly all of the state will get 1 to 2 inches of rain.

The flooding could be particularly bad along the Jersey Shore during high tides between Thursday night and Saturday morning. Cape May County could see major flooding, while the rest of the Jersey Shore should be prepared for moderate flooding.

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National Weather Service

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The greatest uncertainty in the forecast for the nor'easter involves the potential for temperatures to drop below the freezing mark and switch to snow. High temperatures for much of state should hover in the low-40s to upper-30s.

The National Weather Service is calling for 1 to 2 inches of snow in Warren and Sussex Counties, and 4 to 6 inches in higher elevations of Passaic County. A winter storm watch has been issued for Sussex County and western Passaic County.

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National Weather Service

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National Weather Service

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Accuweather's forecast has more widespread predictions of a couple inches of snow into central New Jersey.

The rain-snow line and the timing of the changeover could shift as the storm advances, making for treacherous driving conditions even if the snow doesn't accumulate on the ground, the National Weather Service said.

"Winds will be strong, so occasional whiteout conditions are possible anywhere changeover occurs," the National Weather Service said. The Poconos could see up to a foot of snow.

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Accuweather

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National Weather Service

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While rain should end Friday night or early Saturday, the nor'easter should remain close enough to the coast on Saturday to continue whipping New Jersey with high winds, though not nearly as strong as the peak of the storm Friday.

Temperatures on Friday should be in the 40s with winds gusting above 35 mph.

The pounding wind and flooding could result in beach erosion Friday and Saturday, the National Weather Service warned.

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National Weather Service

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National Weather Service

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Ahead of the storm on Thursday, temperatures should be in the upper 50s under partly sunny skies with light winds. Rain from the nor'easter should arrive in early evening and increase through Friday night.

The early outlook for Sunday through Tuesday appears mostly sunny with highs in the 40s.

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A Calm Day Today Before The Nasty Nor'Easter Arrives Tonight and Through the day Tomorrow! Brisk & Chilly But Sunny This Weekend! pic.twitter.com/kfhE8wDYcX — Bill Evans (@Evansweather) March 1, 2018

7-day forecast

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More New York City area weather

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More Philadelphia area weather

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Matt Dowling may be reached at mdowling@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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