Severe Thunderstorms , Drenching Downpours Target NJ This Weekend

NEW JERSEY — A stretch of dry weather is expected to come to an end this weekend as severe thunderstorms and drenching downpours are in store for New Jersey, according to the latest forecast.

"It will be quite warm and humid on Sunday, at least by mid-March standards," the National Weather Service said. Temperatures will be in the upper 60s to low 70s. It will also be a windy day, with winds increasing from 20 to 30 mph and 35 to 45 mph gusts, forecasters said.

Showers move in as we get later in the day, with up to 1.5 inches of rain predicted, according to the National Weather Service. A few severe thunderstorms are also possible. As the state is still experiencing drought conditions, the rain is much-needed and is unlikely to cause widespread flash flooding, though localized street flooding Sunday night is possible.

The line of downpours is likely to cause travel delays in the metro areas of Philadelphia and New York City, AccuWeather forecasters said.

"Where a lack of rain has led to drought and a surge in wildfires of late, the downpours will help ease the situation," AccuWeather forecasters said.

Dry conditions will continue up until Sunday as temperatures increase.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48. East wind around 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night: Patchy fog after 2 a.m. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 40. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Saturday: Patchy fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 59. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers, mainly between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday : Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 2 p.m. High near 68. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Sunday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers. Low around 47. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.

Monday: A chance of showers before 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Central Jersey

Thursday: Cloudy, with a high near 47. East wind around 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Patchy fog after 4 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 36. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday: Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 55. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Friday Night: A slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Patchy fog after 11 p.m. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 40. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday: Patchy fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 64. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers after 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Sunday: A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. High near 69. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Sunday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then showers likely. Low around 49. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.

Monday: Showers likely, mainly before 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

South Jersey

Thursday: Cloudy, with a high near 50. Northeast wind around 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Patchy fog after 1 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 37. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Friday Night: A slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Patchy fog after 11 p.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday: Patchy fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 2 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 67. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Sunday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then showers likely. Low around 48. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.

Monday: Showers likely, mainly before 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.