Major Shift In NJ Weather As Cold Front Moves In: See Timing

After an extended period of dry weather, rain is in the forecast Thursday night and beyond as a cold front moves into the region, according to the latest forecast.

Thursday will be quiet during the day until the cold front moves in. The timing of the showers and storms is from 6 p.m. to midnight, according to the National Weather Service.

Some of the storms could have strong to damaging wind gusts and locally heavy rain, forecasters said. The greatest chance of storms is along and west of the I-95 corridor.

Friday will remain dry, with warm, humid temperatures in store, National Weather Service forecasters said.

Another cold front moves across New Jersey Saturday afternoon and evening. More showers and storms are expected with this, however, forecasters aren't certain of the timing or intensity.

As we head into the next week, below average temperatures return along with mostly dry conditions, according to the National Weather Service.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 15 mph.

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 56. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: A chance of showers before 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 72.

Central Jersey

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.

South Jersey

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South 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.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: A chance of showers after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.