Polar Vortex In NJ: Chilly Temps, Possible Hail In Forecast

NEW JERSEY - Lovers of springlike weather will have to wait a few more weeks for Old Man Winter to entirely leave the Garden State, forecasters say.

AccuWeather meteorologists note that cold air from northern Canada will move into the northeast starting this weekend, set to bring chilly temperatures to New Jersey from Saturday to Monday.

The weather agency added that temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees below average are possible in that time frame.

"While this may not be the final blast of winter-like cold for the Northeast, it will certainly pack some punch," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said.

Temperatures will feel between 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday, AccuWeather said.

While cloud cover and a breeze may halt the likelihood of below-freezing temperatures at night, many major cities along the I-95 corridor may see near-freezing temperatures, the weather agency said.

Those who have already started outdoor gardens may need to cover plants, and potted plants should be taken indoors.

And although some snow is set to hit the northeast this weekend, New Jersey likely remains in the clear in regard to accumulation. Instead, rain showers and possible hail are in the forecast for Saturday.

“A few wet snowflakes mixed in with rain showers are not out of the question in parts of the I-95 corridor as well,” AccuWeather said.

Friday may see the highest temperatures in the forecast with highs in the low-60s. Saturday will see highs in the 50s and scattered showers (isolated storms may produce small hail, according to the National Weather Service). Sunday will be a bit chillier with temperatures around 45 degrees and wind gusts of up to 30 mph.

“Today will be the most pleasant day through at least the middle of next week, so get out there and enjoy it if you're able,” the National Weather Service said in a tweet Friday. “The temp trend will be downward through Monday, when highs will be in the 30s to around 40°. 'Tis the season for changing temps!”

Here’s the latest forecast:

Friday: Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 61. West wind 5 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday: Scattered showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Partly sunny, with a high near 54. West wind 5 to 15 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then isolated showers between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25.