Hurricanes, Nor’easters And Scares (Oh My!): NJ’s Halloween Forecast

Making your plans for Halloween trick-or-treating? You may want to bring coats for the little ones and a rain poncho just in case as a nor'easter expected to make its way north may affect Halloween and Hurricane Melissa churning its way through the south could post a threat afterwards.

Rain and showers are expected across New Jersey on Wednesday into early Thursday, AccuWeather forecasters say. But the heaviest parts of the storm should have cleared out by Thursday evening, the forecasters said.

"Much-needed rainfall is expected Wednesday night through Thursday," forecasters at the National Weather Service Mount Holly office said Tuesday morning. Total accumulations of 1 to 3 inches of rain are expected, with heavier amounts in Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Warren and Sussex counties. In the central and southern parts of the state, up to 2 inches is anticipated.

Along the coast, minor tidal flooding is anticipated Wednesday into Thursday, with the flooding concerns disspating after the Thursday morning high tide.

The rain and showers are anticipated to move in after midnight Wednesday into Thursday, the National Weather Service said, and could be heavy at times Thursday.

The rain should clear out by early Friday, but strong winds may continue to blow your Halloween decorations on Friday. During the storm, gusts of 40 to 50 mph are possible, along with isolated thunderstorms. Power outages and some downed trees are possible.

High temperatures Wednesday through Halloween are expected to be near 60 degrees, falling into the mid- to low 40s in the evenings, the weather service said.

Layers and ponchos may still be needed at times for outdoor festivities across parts of the East Coast on Saturday. Showers are expected across parts of the Northeast and Florida. Cooler air will linger from northern Florida through parts of the Southeast, mid-Atlantic and Midwest.

"Conditions should be drying out from southern New England to the mid-Atlantic Friday evening," AccuWeather's Paul Pastelok said. "It may be a breezy night of trick-or-treating in some spots. It’s a good idea to pack a poncho or umbrella, just in case a few showers pass by."

Here's the latest forecast:

North Jersey

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 54. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday night: Showers, mainly after 2 am. Low around 45. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday: Showers. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 57. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Thursday night: Showers, mainly before 2 a.m. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 46. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Friday: A chance of showers before 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.

Central Jersey

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday night: A slight chance of showers before 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday: A chance of showers, mainly after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday night: Showers. Low around 48. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11 a.m. High near 64. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Thursday night: Showers likely, mainly before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: A chance of showers before 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.

South Jersey

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tuesday night: A chance of showers, mainly after 9 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Showers likely, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday night: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5 a.m. Low around 50. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 66. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.

Thursday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.

Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 60.