Storms Move Into NJ Thursday As Heat Dome Weakens

A backdoor cold front is moving through New Jersey Thursday, providing some much-needed relief from this week's dangerous heat wave for many, but also bringing rounds of showers and thunderstorms.

Record-breaking heat has been replaced with temperatures as low as 70 degrees in parts of the state Thursday. However, Camden and Gloucester counties are still seeing temperatures in the 90s and the heat advisory there has been extended until 8 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

"As the backdoor front moves through the region, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to form around and along the front," National Weather Service forecasters said.

The heat dome that's to blame for this week's excessive temperatures is now shrinking and weakening, according to AccuWeather forecasters, which makes it easier for thunderstorms to erupt.

These storms aren't likely to be severe, but flash flooding remains a threat, forecasters said.

Isolated showers and thunderstorms may linger into the evening but will diminish overnight, the National Weather Service said.

"The backdoor front is expected to push through the rest of the region, allowing much cooler temperatures to arrive for everyone with lows in the 60s to around 70," National Weather Service forecasters said.

Showers are in store Friday, which will be downright chilly compared to this week. North Jersey high temps will only reach the upper 60s/low 70s, while South Jersey will stay in the mid-upper 70s.

Clouds and rain will continue through the weekend and into next week, forecasters say. However, temperatures will return to seasonal norms by Saturday.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 4 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 5 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 62. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: A slight chance of showers before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 70. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 63. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11 p.m., then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: A chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Central Jersey

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83. East wind around 15 mph.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. East wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 69. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. 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 chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 65. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: A chance of showers after 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.

South Jersey

Thursday: Isolated showers, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 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 chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 74. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: A slight chance of thunderstorms before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southwest 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.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 5 a.m., then a slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: A chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Sunday Night: A chance of thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers after 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.