Severe Thunderstorms, Fierce Winds, Hail Possible In NJ: See Forecast

NEW JERSEY - Thunderstorms, heavy rain, gusty winds and hot temperatures are all in store for New Jerseyans ahead of the long Memorial Day weekend, forecasters said.

Though Wednesday will begin with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-80s, isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms could develop as early as late Wednesday afternoon and evening, the National Weather Service said. Locally gusty winds and small hail possible as temperatures drop to the mid-60s overnight.

Though a few showers and thunder is possible Thursday morning, “more numerous” thunderstorms and heavy rain are set to develop later Thursday as temperatures approach the mid-80s again, the weather service added. The early evening storms will prove to be the strongest, with gusty winds and more hail in the forecast.

Flooding isn’t off the table for regions with poor drainage, AccuWeather noted.

An approaching cold front late Wednesday into Thursday will trigger some thunderstorms across the region which could bring gusty winds and small hail. Storms will be more isolated to scattered this evening before becoming more numerous on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/reBjfaaY1E
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) May 22, 2024

As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, six New Jersey counties (Sussex, Warren, Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset and Mercer) are under a “marginal” severe weather outlook. On Thursday, the outlook will expand to all New Jersey counties, according to graphics provided by the National Weather Service.

The current forecast calls for most severe storms to taper off by mid-Friday, though rain may still linger through a partly sunny Saturday afternoon, the weather service said.

Sunday will see a sunny return to dry skies and temperatures in the 80s before a renewed chance of storms on Sunday night and Memorial Day. Temperatures will be decidedly cooler on the holiday, with daytime highs in the mid-70s.

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

North Jersey

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 11 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 67. Southwest wind 3 to 5 mph.

Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. 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 and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers before 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Light and variable wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.

Central Jersey

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 64. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Southwest 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.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am, then a slight chance of showers between 8am and 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Friday Night: A slight chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

South Jersey

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 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, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2pm, then a slight chance of showers between 2pm and 5pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.