New Storm Threat Approaches As Freezing Temps Hit NJ: Latest Forecast

As Wednesday’s storm moves out of the Garden State, forecasters attentions have shifted to a strong coastal storm gearing up to slam New Jersey over the weekend.

Things could get downright frosty in parts of the state, with a Freeze Watch issued for Thursday evening through Friday morning in Sussex and Warren counties, according to the National Weather Service. Sub-freezing temperatures between 26 and 31 degrees are possible, forecasters said, marking the first frost of the season.

The Pine Barrens may also see frost, and at least "some" patchy frost could occur in the South Jersey suburbs as well, National Weather Service forecasters said.

"Thursday will be the coolest day of the season so far, with high temperatures struggling to climb above the 60 degree mark into the afternoon," National Weather Service forecasters said, noting that areas in higher elevations could see highs only in the mid-to-upper 50s. A breeze will make things even cooler.

Friday's temperatures will reach the mid-60s and get close to 70 on Saturday.

Then a strong coastal storm will take shape, though forecasters are still unsure of exactly how things will play out. That said, National Weather Service forecasters said they are "growing increasingly concerned about the potential impacts locally from this storm."

A stronger storm could mean "moderate to major coastal flooding, significant beach erosion, and strong to damaging winds near the coast and possibly inland across the coastal plain," the National Weather Service said.

"Again, to be clear, a lot of uncertainty with this system, but it bears monitoring very closely, as significant impacts remain possible," forecasters said.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Wednesday: Showers likely, mainly before 10 a.m. Cloudy early, then gradual clearing, with a high near 67. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 59. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Areas of frost after 2 a.m. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 34. Calm wind.

Friday: Widespread frost, mainly before 8 a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.

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

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Sunday: A chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Central Jersey

Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 70. West wind around 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust 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: Clear, with a low around 41. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 62. North wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Night: Areas of frost after 4 a.m. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 34. Calm wind.

Friday: Widespread frost, mainly before 8 a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 66. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 69.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 64. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

South Jersey

Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms before noon, then a slight chance of showers between noon and 3 p.m. High near 71. Southwest wind around 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 44. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 62. North wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 35. Calm wind.

Friday: Areas of frost before 9 a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 65. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 69.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 64. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.