Downpours, Thunderstorms To Drench NJ: Latest Forecast

NEW JERSEY — More May showers are in store for New Jersey through early Saturday, with thunderstorms and up to 3 inches of rain expected across the state, according to the latest forecast.

Thursday will start out dry, but as we get later into the afternoon and evening, rain moves in. It will first hit northwest of the I-95 corridor, according to the National Weather Service.

Showers with embedded thunderstorms throughout the evening will grow more numerous, forecasters said, reaching all over the Garden State by Friday morning.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected Friday as well, petering out by overnight. Any lingering rain will dry out by Saturday morning, forecasters said.

Eventual storm totals will reach 1 to 2 inches broadly across the state, with up to 3 inches possible in parts of North Jersey, National Weather Service forecasters said. (Story continues below)

Saturday will start out windy and colder, but the sun should come out by the afternoon.

Sunday, Mother's Day, will be fair, with warm temperatures expected for mid-May and sun returning.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Thursday: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. High near 73. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then showers between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 a.m. Low around 55. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 59. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 75.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.

Central Jersey

Thursday: A chance of showers between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11 p.m., then a chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 a.m. Low around 56. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 62. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 75.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.

South Jersey

Thursday: A slight chance of showers after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers before 11 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 a.m. Low around 56. South wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. High near 66. East wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 70. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.