Heavy rain could lead to flooding along rivers and coastline

WAYNE, N.J. -- New Jersey officials and residents are coping with heavy rain Wednesday, along with strong winds and flood concerns.

The heaviest rainfall is expected during the evening commute from 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. The storm will start winding down after 9 p.m., but flood risks will remain as rivers swell and oceans reach high tide.

Hoboken was under a high wind warning until 6 a.m. Thursday. A flood watch was also in effect there, along with a coastal flood advisory.

Flood Watches are in effect for several counties, including by flood-prone rivers in Passaic, Essex and Bergen . Officials warn poor drainage may lead to ponding on roadways, and they urge drivers not to pass through floodwaters.

• First Alert Weather: Red Alert for heavy rain, strong wind and flood risks Wednesday

By noon Wednesday, the Passaic River measured about 5 feet in Little Falls. It's considered a "minor flood stage" once the water reaches 7 feet.

The river is expected to hit that flood stage Thursday into Friday, with the water cresting Friday around 7.7 feet. This would be the fourth time since December it reached flood stage in Little Falls.

Communities along these rivers usually flood during storms and people are used to preparing. One pet store owner in Fairfield said she made an extra effort to keep her inventory dry.

"It is very time consuming, but again, it's your business. As a small business, we all have to do whatever it takes by any means necessary to just continually do our work. It's a lot," she said. "It's a part of almost every day now, all these crazy weather patterns."

Coastal flooding, wind and snow

The winds are also a concern and could lead to downed trees and power outages. The MTA banned empty tractor-trailers and tandem trucks on seven bridges from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, and closed the pedestrian walkways on the bridges to the Rockaways.

Long Island's South Shore expects wind gusts up to 60 miles an hour and coastal flooding at high tide. Places like Freeport and Jamaica Bay could see 2 to 3 inches above ground level.

Father north, communities in the Catskills are bracing for several inches of snow from a system that could dump nearly two feet on New England .

Stick with our First Alert Weather team for the latest forecast and weather alerts.