Triple-Digit Heat Wave Before Storms Slam NJ: Latest Forecast

The dog days of summer are here to start the week, with heat index values of more than 100 degrees and high humidity in store for the Garden State before storms return to close out the week, according to the latest forecast.

A Heat Advisory goes into effect 11 a.m. Monday and lasts until 8 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service said. Heat index values (how hot it feels) could reach up to 104 degrees in Passaic, Hudson, Bergen, Essex, Union, Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, western Monmouth, Mercer, Gloucester, Camden, Burlington and Ocean counties.

On Tuesday, that advisory expands to include Sussex, Warren, eastern Monmouth and coastal Ocean counties. While it still will be hot in Atlantic and Cape May counties, temperatures won't quite reach advisory levels.

Tuesday and Wednesday both will be similar, temperature-wise. Dangerous heat and humidity peaks these days. Wednesday night also has chances of scattered downpours and thunderstorms, but more precipitation is likely Thursday.

A cold front approaches Wednesday night and slowly moves through Thursday, according to the forecast. Thursday will likely be wet and stormy, the National Weather Service said, potentially with flash flooding.

The good news is the heat and humidity will fall with the cold front moving in. Forecasters say that temperatures will be in the 70s/80s for several days by the end of the week.

"Early indications are that it could perhaps be the nicest weekend of the summer," the National Weather Service said.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 72. Calm wind.

Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Calm wind.

Wednesday: A chance of showers between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming southwest 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.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly 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.

Thursday: A chance of showers before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Friday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Central Jersey

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 102. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Calm wind.

Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Heat index values as high as 102. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Calm wind.

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Friday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

South Jersey

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 100. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Calm wind.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 102. Calm wind.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Calm wind.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Friday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.