Severe Thunderstorms Could Hit NJ In Mid-Week Storm: Latest Forecast

NEW JERSEY — March is coming in like a lion in New Jersey this week as a strong mid-week storm is sweeping across the country.

Monday and Tuesday will be dry, then showers and thunderstorms will hit on Wednesday, according to the latest forecast. The strongest dangers with the storm is heavy, gusty winds.

"The winds in association with the storm can become strong enough to cause widespread travel disruptions," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Elizabeth Danco. "They also can knock over trees and bring down power lines across the eastern two-thirds of the nation through Wednesday night."

Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph are forecast across the entire state. Gusts upwards of 60 mph could blow along the Jersey Shore, AccuWeather forecasters say.

Much of New Jersey is under a "marginal risk" of severe weather, according to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center, with the northernmost portion of the state unlikely to see severe thunderstorms. However, strong to severe wind gusts could still occur even without severe weather, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters also haven't ruled out the potential for an isolated tornado.

Breezy, but dry, conditions are in store for Thursday and Friday. More rain is possible over the weekend.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 37. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 22. Calm wind.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Tuesday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 38. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday: Rain, mainly after noon. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 56. Light south wind increasing to 9 to 14 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Rain before midnight, then a chance of showers after midnight. Low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 55.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 48.

Central Jersey

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 38. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. South wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday Night: A slight chance of showers after 4 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday: Showers, mainly after 1 p.m. High near 58. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 a.m., then a chance of showers. Low around 48. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 55.

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

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 50.

South Jersey

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 39. West wind around 5 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. South wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 4 p.m. High near 58. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 a.m., then a chance of showers. Low around 48. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 55.

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

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 51.