'Ring Of Fire' Thunderstorms To Break Up Intense Heat In NJ

As dangerously high temperatures and heavy humidity continue to cook New Jersey, thunderstorms are set to erupt around the heat dome, creating a "ring of fire," AccuWeather forecasters said.

"This is an incredibly hot and steamy heat wave for the month of June," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. "Record-challenging high temperatures are expected from the Plains to the Northeast. The worst of the heat and humidity is expected Tuesday afternoon along the Interstate 95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to Boston."

This strong heat dome, which has engulfed much of the country from Texas to New England, is shattering high temperature records around the Garden State. According to the National Weather Service's Mount Holly office, seven of their nine climate stations tied or broke record highs on Monday.

An approaching cold front will bring showers and storms to the region, which will help break the heat wave, forecasters say.

Because the heat dome is warm through most layers of the atmosphere, clouds and storms have difficulty forming.

"However, on the edges of the heat, especially along the northern and western flanks thereof, the air is cooler well above the ground, which makes it easier for clouds to tower and produce thunderstorms," AccuWeather said. "Within this ring, there can be spotty, individual thunderstorms, large clusters of thunderstorms or a solid line of storms that can repeat or meander back and forth as hot and cool air change hands."

Rain will move in Wednesday afternoon into the night.

"With strong surface heating enhancing low- level instability, gusty winds could occur with any stronger storms, though marginal lapse rates and weak winds aloft should temper any severe threat," the National Weather Service said. "With the isolated showers and storms, increased cloud cover, and the approaching cold front, Wednesday night will be slightly cooler (though still quite warm)."

Thursday and Friday will be noticeably cooler as showers and storms linger, forecasters said, and temperatures will return to seasonal normals over the weekend.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 77. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 101. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: A chance of showers before 11 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 11pm, then a chance of showers after 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: A chance of showers, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Central Jersey

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 78. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 102. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: A chance of showers before 11 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., then a chance of showers after 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

South Jersey

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 78. Calm wind.

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Heat index values as high as 102. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.