Temperature Shift Heralds First Frost, Rain: Latest Forecast

After a warm, summery weekend for the Garden State, this week will take a turn as an approaching cold front ushers in some beneficial rain, lower temperatures and possibly even the season's first frost, according to the latest forecast.

Both Monday and Tuesday are expected to be warm, with mostly sunny conditions Monday, National Weather Service forecasters said. Tuesday will see increasing cloud cover as the cold front moves in. Highs both days are in the high-70s to low-80s.

Tuesday night is when the cold front makes it way through New Jersey, bringing in some "much-needed" rain overnight, forecasters say. That rain will end Wednesday morning except for some lingering showers near the shore. A rumble of thunder is possible, and the majority of the state should see near 1 inch of rain, though forecasters say some areas will likely fall short while others over-perform.

According to the U.S Drought Monitor, much of North Jersey along with the eastern portion of Ocean County and parts of Camden and Gloucester counties are "abnormally dry," with some of North and Central Jersey in "moderate drought."

"The incoming front is expected to bring beneficial rain across many of the drought-stricken areas across the Midwest and Northeast," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. "However, it will not be enough to erase the drought conditions."

Temperatures Wednesday will hover around 70, according to the National Weather Service. Thursday and Friday will be "seasonably cool" with highs in the low-to-mid-60s.

Overnight lows Wednesday will range from the upper-30s to upper-40s, with some low-30s possible in northwestern Jersey by Thursday night.

"Would not be surprised to see the first Frost headlines of the season for northern New Jersey and southern Poconos by the end of the week," National Weather Service forecasters said.

There might be some soaking rain on the weekend, but forecasters warned that this is very uncertain since it's so early in the week.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Monday: Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday Night: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 a.m., then showers likely between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 61.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 39.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 65.

Central Jersey

Today: Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. South wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. West wind around 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 62.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 66.

South Jersey

Monday: Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Calm wind.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5 a.m. Low around 59. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers after 8 a.m. High near 70. Southwest wind around 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers before 8 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Chance of precipitation is 30% percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 62.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 66.