Extreme Heat Prompts School Closures In NJ: Latest Forecast

NEW JERSEY - A heat advisory is in effect for much of the Garden State this week as maximum “feels like” temperatures are expected to reach up to 105 degrees Tuesday, forecasters said.

The rising temperatures have prompted heat advisories across the region and some schools have planned to cut the day short.

Some South Jersey schools near Philadelphia have already announced early dismissals due to the anticipated heat. The Gloucester Township, Camden and Winslow school districts in Camden County all announced the first days of classes for students will be four-hour sessions.

The sweltering temperatures are a result of a hot and humid air mass over the region, according to the National Weather Service. New Jersey residents should be prepared for temperatures in the low- to mid-90s, with heat index values - that is, a measure of how hot it really feels outside - even higher, especially in urban areas adjacent to Interstate 95 and neighboring areas in the northern part of the state.

“Summer isn't quite done with us yet,” the National Weather Service Mount Holly station said in a statement. “Highs will be in the 90s with dew points well in the 60s. Stay cool and hydrated!”

Fourteen New Jersey counties are under a heat advisory from 8 a.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. Wednesday as heat index values around 100 degrees are expected. The affected counties are:

• Morris
• Hunterdon
• Somerset
• Middlesex
• Monmouth
• Mercer
• Salem
• Gloucester
• Camden
• Burlington
• Bergen
• Hudson
• Essex
• Eastern Passaic

“Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur,” the National Weather Service said in a statement. “Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.”

The heat wave is slated to linger for several days, according to AccuWeather.

Some parts of the region already got a head start on Monday, with record-setting daily temperatures recorded in Reading (95 degrees) and Philadelphia (96 degrees), Pennsylvania, as well as Wilmington, Delaware (96 degrees).

In fact, Philadelphia is set to challenge temperature records daily through Wednesday, with AccuWeather forecasters predicting temperatures in the upper 90s from early to midweek.

Temperatures are expected to dip slightly on Thursday with a high near 92 degrees, though the hot weather streak won’t see a major shift starting Friday with a chance of thunderstorms and highs between 85 and 90 degrees.

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

North Jersey
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Light northwest wind.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 96. Northwest wind 3 to 6 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Light west wind.
Thursday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 92.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

South Jersey
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph after midnight.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Light northwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Friday: A chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Friday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.