A wet start to the week is in store across the Garden State, with widespread rain moving through the region today. Monday’s forecast calls for steady rainfall mainly before 4 p.m., with high temperatures reaching near 56 degrees. Winds from the southeast will shift to the southwest in the afternoon, gusting up to 30 mph at times. Rainfall amounts could total between half and three-quarters of an inch, contributing to a damp and breezy day statewide.
Conditions will begin to improve overnight, turning partly cloudy with lows dipping to around 40 degrees. By Tuesday, New Jersey can expect a brief reprieve from the rain. Sunny skies and milder temperatures near 59 degrees are on tap, accompanied by west winds between 10 and 15 mph.
The dry spell will be short-lived.
A chance of rain returns Tuesday night, bringing mostly cloudy skies and lows near 37. Light showers could linger into Wednesday morning, with a 30 percent chance of precipitation before 2 p.m. The rest of Wednesday should be mostly sunny, albeit cooler, with highs around 52 degrees. Winds will shift to the northwest and could gust up to 20 mph.
By Wednesday night, skies are expected to clear out, and temperatures will fall to around 30 degrees, signaling a colder but drier finish to the midweek period.
This stretch of weather closely mirrors typical March conditions in New Jersey. Historically, average high temperatures during this time hover in the mid-50s, with lows in the upper 30s. Rainfall is not uncommon, and the current forecast aligns well with seasonal trends, which see a gradual uptick in the chance of wet days as the month progresses.
Residents are advised to be prepared for changing conditions and to drive with caution during wet periods. While the beginning of the week may be gray, clearer skies are just around the corner.