Severe Thunderstorm Watches Issued As Dangerous Heat Targets NJ

NEW JERSEY — Wednesday will be a dangerously hot day before rounds of potentially severe thunderstorms hits the Garden State in the evening, according to the latest forecast.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties as of 12:35 p.m. It will be in effect until 7 p.m. Hail, wind gusts of up to 70 mph and frequent lightning are all possible, according to the National Weather Service.

A heat advisory has been issued for Gloucester, Camden, Mercer and northwestern Burlington counties from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. According to the National Weather Service, heat index values in these areas are expected to get up to 99 degrees.

Humidity will also be high, forecasters say.

"Certainly it will feel very summery for much of the region by early this afternoon," National Weather Service forecasters said.

That summery feeling will continue with a round of thunderstorms in the afternoon and early evening. Most of the state is at a marginal risk of severe weather, according to the National Weather Service, and locally heavy rains are possible.

Storms will dwindle, but will return on Thursday, according to the forecast. It will be another day of dangerous heat followed by storms that have damaging winds and possible hail, the National Weather Service said. Storms Thursday could be stronger than those Wednesday, forecasters said.

Those storms will clear out by Thursday night, ushering in a very warm but drier period.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4 p.m. Patchy fog before noon. High near 83. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then patchy drizzle between midnight and 1 a.m. Patchy fog before 5 a.m. Low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Juneteenth: Showers and thunderstorms likely after 2 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 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 slight chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 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: Sunny, with a high near 83. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 90.

Central Jersey

Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. High near 86. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Patchy fog between midnight and 3 a.m. Low around 71. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Juneteenth: Showers and thunderstorms likely after 2 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 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. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.

South Jersey

Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8 p.m. Patchy fog between midnight and 3 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Juneteenth: Showers and thunderstorms likely after 2 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 100. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 87.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.