Severe Thunderstorm Watch for NJ [VIDEO]
More thunderstorms on Thursday afternoon could make the ride home a carbon copy of the morning commute.
The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for most of New Jersey until 8 p.m. Thursday with a Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued in parts of Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem counties for a strong cell with tennis ball-size hail and 70 MPH winds.
Meteorologist Alan Kasper says conditions are favorable for other storms to develop with damaging winds up to 70 MPH, quarter-size or larger hail, frequent cloud-to-ground lightning and torrential downpours.
WFMZ TV tweeted pictures from Berks County, Pennsylvania of hail covering the ground that looks like snow.
The heavy rain from Thursday morning's storms caused flooding in lanes on Interstate 195 and the Garden State Parkway in the Ocean County construction zone. A lightning strike is being blamed for starting a fire at a farm hose in Upper Freehold according to CBS New York which reports 12 fire companies from Monmouth, Mercer and Ocean counties responded to the fire.
State Police Capt. Stephen Jones tells the Asbury Park Press fighting the fire was challenging because the road leading to the home was too narrow for large trucks. Jones says all the people inside the home got out safely.
Heading into the Memorial Day Weekend Kasper expects Friday and Saturday to be partly sunny with temperatures in the 70s and a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunday and Monday look to be sunny
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MORE COVERAGE:
- New Jersey Home Goes Up In Flames After Lightning Strike / CBS New York
- Lightning set Upper Freehold home on fire / Asbury Park Press
The Associated Press contributed to this report