Major Weather Change Ahead For NJ As New System Moves In

A brief reprieve from the bitter, frigid conditions New Jersey has been experiencing is in store this week, with gusty winds and potentially heavy rain following in its wake, according to the latest forecast.

Tuesday will again be cold, but Wednesday through Friday should see the return of milder temperatures, National Weather Service forecasters said.

Temperatures will climb to the 40s Wednesday, with winds of 20 to 25 mph occasionally gusting to 30 mph in higher elevations, forecasters predict.

For Thursday, temperatures will get up into the 50s. Rain will move in by Thursday night, but forecasters say that it will mainly be beneficial. It could be heavy at times, according to the forecast.

Most of New Jersey should see 1 inch or more of rain, according to the National Weather Service.

Following the rain will be gusty winds, forecasters say, upwards of 30 mph to 40 mph. A Wind Advisory may be put into effect, National Weather Service forecasters said.

Breezy winds will continue through Friday night but will continue to weaken.

Over the weekend, temperatures will be more seasonable. Colder temperatures are expected to return next week.

Here's the latest forecast:

North Jersey

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 31. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 19. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph after midnight.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Rain. Low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain likely before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 37.

Central Jersey

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 30. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph after midnight.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Rain. Low around 44. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain likely before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 40.

South Jersey

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 33. Calm wind.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 19. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Southwest wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Rain. Low around 47. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: A chance of rain before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23. Breezy.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 42.