Rounds Of Rain In NJ Followed By Cold Air: Latest Forecast

The unseasonably warm temperatures in New Jersey will linger through the weekend before cold air surges back in, returning to normal temperatures and bringing the potential for snow next week, according to the latest forecast.

Rain will start moving in Friday afternoon, National Weather Service forecasters said. Temperatures will range from 10 to 15 degrees above normal.

The best chances for showers is from late afternoon into early evening hours, according to the forecast. A few rumbles of thunder cannot be ruled out. A weak cold front will follow.

"The cold front will pass through the region during the overnight hours," National Weather Service forecasters said. "It appears increasingly likely that there will be a lull in rainfall activity once this first round of showers moves out, and until more widespread rainfall moves in tomorrow."

Heavier rain is in store for Saturday, particularly in the afternoon and evening, ahead of another cold front.

A windy Sunday follows the rain. Gusts will peak in the 30 mph to 40 mph range, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures will also start to drop Sunday.

"Some colder air will sweep in behind the storm, finishing up in the Northeast this weekend," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. "In many cases, the colder air arriving around mid-January across the Central and Eastern states will not be as harsh as the cold experienced in parts of December."

AccuWeather forecasters also are tracking a coastal storm next week that could impact the I-95 corridor, plus another storm Jan. 17 through 18. Both of these could produce snow, forecasters said.

"The upcoming pattern looks like quick waves of cold in the Midwest and Northeast," Pastelok said. "And the magnitude of the cold may be very much dependent on whether we have a storm around the middle of the month, with another to follow." Larger storms tend to pull cold air in their wake. Details will become clearer as the date gets closer.

Here's the forecast.

North Jersey

Friday: A chance of rain, mainly after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of rain before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: Rain, mainly after 1 p.m. High near 45. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Rain, mainly before 1 a.m. Low around 38. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: A chance of showers, mainly before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 45. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.

Central Jersey

Friday: A chance of rain, mainly after 4 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 56. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Friday Night: A chance of rain, mainly before 9 p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 41. South wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: Rain, mainly after 1 p.m. High near 47. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Rain. Low around 40. East wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: A chance of showers, mainly before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 46. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 40.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.

South Jersey

Friday: A chance of rain after 4 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 56. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday Night: A chance of rain before 10 p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 44. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: Rain, mainly after 7 a.m. High near 50. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Rain. Low around 40. East wind around 5 mph becoming west in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: A chance of showers, mainly before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 41.

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

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 47.