7/23/2008 Update:

Now we’re under a severe thunderstorm “warning”… Perhaps I’m making a big deal out of what some may call “typical summer showers,” but after getting hit by lightning once already this season, I may just unplug everything depending on how bad it gets…

“NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL… AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR TOTTENVILLE… OR NEAR SAYREVILLE… AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 36 MPH.”

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7/23/2008 Update:

Charge your camera batteries! From the sound of this weather bulletin, we’re screwed! Be sure to listen to the Live Hoboken Police and Fire Scanner as all sorts of flood-related reports come in!

Flash Flood Watch

HEAVY RAIN AND FLASH FLOODING LIKELY THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING…

A COLD FRONT VERY SLOWLY APPROACHING FROM THE WEST IS THE TRIGGER FOR VERY HEAVY RAINFALL… ESPECIALLY OVERNIGHT AND THROUGH THE DAY ON THURSDAY. A MOIST TROPICAL AIR MASS WILL PROVIDE THE INGREDIENTS TO PRODUCE THE TORRENTIAL RAINFALL AND FLASH FLOODING.
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING…

SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT APPROACHING THE AREA WILL PROVIDE A FOCUS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS REPEATEDLY MOVING OVER THE SAME AREAS COULD PRODUCE TORRENTIAL RAINFALL… WITH RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR POSSIBLE.

TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED… WITH LOCALIZED AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF 6 INCHES… ESPECIALLY OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS NORTH AND WEST OF NEW YORK CITY. RAINFALL OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL LIKELY CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE SPOTS WITHIN THE WATCH AREA… AS WELL AS SHARP RISES ON LARGER STREAMS AND RIVERS. FLOODING OF FLOOD PRONE BASEMENTS IS ALSO LIKELY.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

7/23/2008:

There’s no way to say for sure how much rain Hoboken will receive and exactly when, but forecasters are giving us fair warning that we might be in for a dumping! (some of which was on its way as I was getting ready for an “early” night’s sleep.)

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Heavy rain potential

Coinciding with a break in the heat, a big outbreak of heavy rain with some strong thunderstorms will unfold over the East through midweek. Locally, heavy rain will fall over the mid-Atlantic region Tuesday night; however, wider coverage of heavy to excessive rainfall will spread widely over New England and eastern New York through central and eastern Virginia Wednesday and Wednesday night. Rain will then shift eastward over New England Thursday.

Highest rainfall will exceed 2 inches in a corridor through the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast. Locally, rainfall will even top 4 inches. Urban and small stream flooding will be a threat.

Another threat Wednesday into Wednesday night will be that of strong to severe thunderstorms from Virginia and northeastern North Carolina into eastern New York and western New England.

I take back my “best bet” weather suggestion for the St. Ann’s Feast, and now suggest Friday and beyond as the best chance for decent weather. That is, if you feel like paying $6 for cheap tap beer! Fried Oreos, that’s an entirely different situation!

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