Flash flood watch in effect from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly, N.J., has issued a flash flood watch from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning for portions of northern Delaware, northeast Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including the following areas:

• In northern Delaware: Newcastle
• In northeast Maryland: Cecil
• In New Jersey: northwestern Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, eastern and western Monmoth, Morris, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren.
• In Pennsylvania: Berks, lower and upper Bucks, Carbon, eastern and western Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, eastern and western Montgomery, Monroe, Northampton, and Philadelphia.

A slow-moving and potent cold front will tap thge Gulf of Mexico, and it is forecast to generate rainfall amounts of beteween 1 inch and 2.5 inches. Locally higher amounts are possible in prolonged and heavy downpours. Moreover, thunderstorms may develop.

Prolonged and heavy downpours would cause flash flooding in some locations. Road flooding is likely. Since the ground is not frozen just below the surface, and plants are taking in very little water, heavy rainfall will not be absorbed. Any lingering snow on the ground northwest of Philadelphia would melt and exacerbate runoff.

Flooding of smaller and more flashy creeks and streams also is possible. Major river flooding is not likely.