Record Heat, Big Changes In NJ Forecast Ahead Of Weekend Storm

NEW JERSEY — Garden State residents should enjoy dry skies and potentially record-breaking high temperatures Thursday ahead of a weekend storm, forecasters said.

Thursday’s daytime highs are slated to reach nearly 90 degrees near Philadelphia, Trenton and Vineland, according to the National Weather Service, and the mid-80s near Flemington, Morristown and Toms River. Temperatures should be a bit cooler by the shore and northeastern New Jersey.

“Clouds may persist right along the coasts and at the beaches, where it will be much cooler compared to inland,” the weather service said in a forecast discussion. “Highs will generally top off in the mid to upper 80s, possibly touching 90 in some spots for most of the region, and highs will be in the 70s in the mountains and along the coasts.”

The summer-like heat could even break some records in New Jersey, forecasters said.

“While some records look out of reach, a few could be in jeopardy, with the forecasted high at Philly and Trenton just 1 degree short of the record,” the National Weather Service Mount Holly station said in a statement.

🔥🌡️A warm day is on tap with temperatures in the mid to upper 80s expected. While some records look out of reach, a few could be in jeopardy, with the forecasted high at Philly and Trenton just 1 degree short of the record. #NJwx #MDwx #DEwx #PAwx pic.twitter.com/qw1gsr31ih
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) May 2, 2024

Thursday night’s temperatures will dip to about 50 degrees, the National Weather Service said, before a sunny daytime cool down to around 60 degrees Friday. Both Saturday and Sunday hold a chance of showers (with heavy showers expected Sunday) and overcast daytime temperatures in the 60s.

Here’s the latest forecast, according to the National Weather Service:

North Jersey

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. North wind 5 to 8 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. Southeast wind around 7 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Southeast wind 3 to 7 mph.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 61. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph.

Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers after 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Central Jersey

Thursday: Patchy fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 62. East wind 10 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. East wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers, mainly after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

South Jersey

Thursday: Areas of fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 85. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. West wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. East wind 10 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. East wind around 10 mph.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers, mainly after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.