Flash flood watch in effect through Friday morning

A flash flood watch in effect through Friday morning, July 9, for Mercer, Somerset, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean counties, and portions of Burlington County in New Jersey, as well as Bucks County in Pennsylvania.

Tropical Storm Elsa will bring heavy rain to the region from late Thursday into Friday morning. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected on the coastal plain, with higher amounts up to 6 inches possible in some ares of the Princeton region. West of the Interstate 95 corridor, the amoung could range from 1 to 2 inches, with up to 3 inches of rain possible.

Heavy rain in a short period of time could cause streams and creeks to rise quickly above their banks and there is the potential for flash flooding in urban areas, paticularly with the ground wet and waters already high due to recent storms.

A severe thunderstorm watch is also in effect for the region until 9 p.m. Thursday.

 As the remnant of Tropical Storm Elsa make its way up the coast, PSE&G reported that its employees are performing system checks and prepping for potential outages.

“We’ve shifted resources to our hardest hit areas in North Jersey and expect additional contractors to help complete restorations from yesterday’s storm. We’re also monitoring weather conditions as more rain is forecast for today and the rest of the week,” said Jack Bridges, PSE&G’s vice president of electric operations. “As for Elsa, PSE&G has additional personnel ready to respond and we’re performing system and logistics checks to ensure the availability of critical materials, fuel and other supplies. We encourage our customers to prepare as well.”

Tips from PSE&G:

  • Downed wires should always be considered “live.” Stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines, and don’t go near the pole or anything touching the line. Immediately call PSE&G at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) to report downed wires and dial 911 if an imminent hazard exists.
  • Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires. Don’t drive over — and don’t stand near — downed power lines.
  • Downed lines can potentially be hidden in standing water. If you encounter large pools of standing water, stop, back up and choose another path.
  • To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not run any gasoline-powered generators in a garage or any other enclosed space.
  • If you are on life-sustaining medical equipment, ensure that you alert PSE&G in advance and notify your local police and fire departments. For more information, visit www.pseg.com/life.

Report a power outage by texting OUT to 4PSEG (47734). You can also report an outage at pseg.com/myaccount or by calling PSE&G at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) .

If you are a JCP&L customer, report your outage by calling 888-544-4877.