TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey is bracing for heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms beginning Thursday afternoon, with wet weather expected to linger through Friday night before clearer skies arrive for the weekend.
NWS forecasters say there is a 40% chance of showers starting around 2 p.m. Thursday, increasing to include thunderstorms after 5 p.m. The day will remain mostly sunny otherwise, with temperatures peaking near 76 degrees. Winds will stay calm, turning southeast around 5 mph by afternoon.
Showers and thunderstorms are likely to intensify after sunset. Rainfall could range between a quarter to half an inch overnight, with a steady low around 56 degrees. The chance of precipitation jumps to 80%.
Friday will bring widespread rainfall and possible thunderstorms throughout the day. The high will dip to around 64 degrees, with up to three-quarters of an inch of rain expected. Winds will shift from east to west at around 5 mph.
Key points
- Showers and storms are likely through late Friday with up to 0.75 inches of rainfall expected
- Thunderstorms may begin late Thursday afternoon and intensify overnight
- A cooler, drier Saturday is forecast with highs near 69 and gusts up to 25 mph
Dry, breezy Saturday expected after Friday storms
Rain chances taper off Friday night, with lingering showers and isolated storms possible until 2 a.m. Saturday. Skies will stay mostly cloudy overnight with a low around 49 degrees. Winds will shift to the northwest at about 5 mph.
Conditions will improve by Saturday, when mostly sunny skies and a high near 69 are expected. Northwest winds may reach speeds of 10 mph, with gusts topping 25 mph, forecasters say.