Polar Vortex Could Make For Frigid NJ Thanksgiving: Latest Forecast

A combination of stormy weather and a weakening polar vortex could make for a wet, brisk Thanksgiving week in New Jersey, according to the latest forecast.

The atmospheric disruption high in the Arctic could cause changes in the stratosphere that will have a chilling ripple effect on many parts of the country, including a colder December than normal, CNN reports.

Colder temperatures will move in on Wednesday evening.

At the same time, a storm system moving east will bring rain Tuesday and Wednesday.

The rain will begin Tuesday afternoon, becoming widespread by the evening. Temperatures will be mild both Tuesday and Wednesday, with highs reaching near 60, according to the National Weather Service.

Even some rumbles of thunder will be possible Wednesday, mostly in South Jersey.

Those traveling on these days should be aware of potentially dangerous travel conditions.

Rain ends by nighttime as a cold front comes in. The cold will impact much of the northeast and Mid-Atlantic, according to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, with the worst of it expected Nov. 27 through Dec. 1.

Thursday and Friday will both be rather brisk, with temperatures several degrees below normal (highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s) and breezy winds (20 mph to 40 mph), National Weather Service forecasters said.

Things will remain dry, though it's possible for some lake effect snow to impact the higher elevations of North Jersey, forecasters said.

According to the National Weather Service, "significant" model discrepancies exist for next weekend, but another storm could move in to end the weekend.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 49. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Calm wind.

Tuesday: Rain likely after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 53. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Rain, mainly before 1 a.m. Low around 45. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 61. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: A chance of rain before 1 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41.

Central Jersey

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 51. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Calm wind.

Tuesday: Rain likely after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 57. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Rain. Low around 48. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 64. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: A chance of rain before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.

South Jersey

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the afternoon.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Calm wind.

Tuesday: Rain likely after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 58. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Rain, mainly before 1 a.m. Low around 50. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Rain likely, mainly before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of rain before 1 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 20 perfect.

Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 42.