Gale warning issued for New Jersey coast, Brick tree lighting postponed

Rain and gusty winds are headed for New Jersey on Wednesday, and meteorologists are warning of gale-force conditions along the coast.

Beginning Wednesday, the Jersey Shore will be under a gale warning as wind gusts could reach speeds as high as 50 mph, said Alex Staarmann, a meteorologist at the Mount Holly station of the National Weather Service.

Wind gusts in the middle to upper 30s are more likely across the rest of New Jersey, according to the weather service.

"It is the same system that is going to bring severe weather to the Southeast (United States)," Staarmann said Tuesday.

The storm is expected to bring severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to Louisiana, Mississippi and their neighbors Tuesday night. However, cooler air over the Northeast means that same system is unlikely to bring such severe storms to New Jersey, Staarmann said.

Yet the winds that ride the system could remain strong enough to cause small power outages across the region, he said.

In Brick, municipal officials rescheduled the December tree lighting, which was originally planned for Wednesday evening, to 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Staarmann urged residents to prepare for Wednesday's weather.

"The main thing to keep in mind with these winds is to secure loose outdoor items, like decorations or furniture," the meteorologist said.

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Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers Brick, Barnegat and Lacey townships as well as the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than a decade. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ weather: Gale warning issued for coast