Major Weather Change In NJ As Thanksgiving Weekend Begins

A milder Wednesday will shift suddenly when a cold front moves in through the evening, bringing with it 30-degree temperatures and wind gusts of up to 40 mph in time for Thanksgiving, according to the latest forecast.

Showers and downpours are set for Wednesday between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. as the cold front approaches, National Weather Service forecasters said.

Rain will drop off in the wake of the front, with wind gusts around 25 mph to 35 mph and possibly up to 40 mph.

For Thursday, no rain is expected, but winds will gust around 30 mph at times, forecasters said.

"Winds could gust between 20 and 30 miles per hour," AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyssa Glenny said. "Winds will be a factor to closely monitor."

That could ground the iconic balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Temperatures will be mostly in the 40s, according to the National Weather Service.

More of the same is expected Friday, with stronger wind gusts of up to 40 mph possible.

Things will stay dry and cool for the weekend until milder conditions return Sunday.

More rain is possible in the coming week.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Wednesday: A chance of showers after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 7 p.m. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 35. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

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

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 41.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Sunday: A chance of rain after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 48. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Central Jersey

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers before 11 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 34. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. West wind around 15 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 43.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

South Jersey

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers after 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 43. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 43.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.