Mount Holly, NJ – A soggy stretch of weather could disrupt Memorial Day weekend plans across New Jersey as forecasters warn of several straight days of rain, gusty winds and possible thunderstorms heading into the holiday.
That could put a damper on planned pop-up parties intended to disrupt the shore towns, but bad for tourism overall.
The latest National Weather Service forecast issued Thursday shows rain chances climbing sharply through Saturday, with showers expected nearly every day through Memorial Day.
Saturday currently looks like the wettest day of the stretch, with forecasters predicting widespread showers, wind gusts up to 20 mph and a 90% chance of rain. Conditions could worsen Saturday night, when thunderstorms are also possible and rainfall totals may reach up to a half-inch in some areas.
The repeated rounds of rain are raising concerns about a potential holiday weekend washout for beachgoers, campers, barbecue hosts and travelers across the state.
Friday Brings Brief Break Before Weekend Soaker
Thursday’s showers were expected to taper off by late afternoon, though skies were forecast to remain cloudy into the evening.
Friday may offer the best opportunity for outdoor activities before conditions deteriorate again. Forecasters predict mostly cloudy skies with highs near 63 degrees, but rain chances return late Friday night.
By Saturday morning, widespread showers are expected to move back into New Jersey and continue into Sunday.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Key Points
• Rain chances remain elevated in New Jersey through Memorial Day.
• Saturday carries a 90% chance of showers with possible thunderstorms overnight.
• Memorial Day itself still includes a 50% chance of rain.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Memorial Day Forecast Still Unsettled
Sunday’s forecast currently calls for lingering showers before 2 p.m. with cloudy skies and temperatures near 68 degrees.
Even Memorial Day itself may not fully escape the wet pattern. Forecasters predict a 50% chance of showers Monday, with mostly cloudy skies and highs climbing into the mid-70s.
While the holiday will likely be warmer than the weekend, unsettled weather could still interrupt outdoor ceremonies, shore traffic and cookouts.
Travelers heading to the Jersey Shore or planning long-distance drives may also encounter periods of reduced visibility and slick road conditions through the holiday stretch.
Clouds, Cool Temperatures Dominate Start of Holiday Weekend
In addition to rain, much of the state will remain cooler than typical late-May conditions. High temperatures are expected to stay mostly in the upper 50s to mid-60s through Sunday before slightly warming Monday.
Persistent northeast and east winds will also reinforce the chilly, damp feel across much of the region.
Current Status
As of Thursday, forecasters continue to monitor an unsettled weather system expected to impact New Jersey through Memorial Day. While rain timing could still shift, multiple days of showers remain in the forecast statewide heading into the holiday weekend.
