System near Florida could develop into a tropical storm this weekend, potentially bringing steady rain to N.J., forecasters say.
Forecasters are keeping a close eye on a storm system that is swirling off the coast of Florida, saying it has an 80 percent chance of developing into a tropical storm or tropical depression at the start of the Memorial Day weekend.
If the system strengthens, it would become a named storm -- Bonnie -- and its biggest threat would likely be to coastal sections of northeastern Georgia up to southeastern Virginia, according to AccuWeather forecasters. That's where there's a potential for heavy rain, rough surf and strong winds.
"How rough conditions get will depend on how strong the system becomes, how close to the coast it gets and whether or not the system stalls," said Dan Kottlowski, a hurricane specialist for AccuWeather.
Based on current projections, the storm would not pose a threat to New Jersey in terms of strong winds or rough surf. However, moisture associated with the system could bring steady rain to the Garden State late Sunday into Monday, said John Leo, a meteorologist at the WeatherWorks forecasting company in Hackettstown.
Is the Atlantic too cold for swimming?
"We might get some showers out of it on Memorial Day," Leo said. "We were already expecting scattered showers (on Monday), so the worst case would be a steady rain."
Saturday continues to look like the nicest day of the holiday weekend, with partly sunny skies and highs in the mid- to upper 80s, although it will be humid. Hot weather is expected to continue for the early part of Sunday, followed by a chance of afternoon showers or thunderstorms.
The risk of showers and thunderstorms increases to 40 percent Sunday night and 60 percent on Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
Tropical storm likely forming off Florida's coast, forecasters say https://t.co/TZ6syKQSvM pic.twitter.com/47xxpBklju
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Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.