SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. – The weekend is ending on a wet note across the Jersey Shore, with showers and thunderstorms moving through the region Sunday morning and some storms capable of producing heavy rain.
The good news for anyone trying to squeeze a little more September out of the Shore is that the rain isn’t expected to stick around.
Conditions should improve considerably Sunday afternoon, followed by a mostly dry Monday and a sunny Tuesday. Temperatures will also step down from Sunday’s summerlike lower 80s into the 70s as cooler air moves into New Jersey.
Heavy Rain Possible Sunday Morning
Sunday is the day to keep an eye on the sky.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected mainly during the morning, with an 80% to 90% chance of rain along much of the Shore. Some storms could produce locally heavy rainfall before the system begins moving away.
Rainfall amounts around a quarter to a half-inch are possible, although thunderstorms could produce higher totals in isolated locations.
Temperatures should still reach the lower 80s in parts of Monmouth County and Ocean County, with similar readings farther south around Atlantic and Cape May counties.
The timing could work out well for Sunday’s Wildwoods Air Show.
The wettest weather is expected during the morning, while conditions should improve as the day progresses. The show is scheduled to fly from noon through about 3 p.m., with the F-22 Raptor among the aircraft expected back over the beach.
Weather can always change the flying schedule, but the forecast calls for the morning rain to give way to improving skies.
Sunday night should be much quieter. Skies will become mostly clear, with temperatures falling into the mid-to-upper 60s near the coast.
Monday Starts Cooler and Mostly Dry
Monday brings the first noticeable change.
A stray morning shower remains possible in some areas, particularly early in the day, but most of the Shore should be dry.
Clouds will gradually break for sunshine, with highs generally in the upper 70s.
A north wind around 10 mph will bring in cooler, less humid air. Gusts could reach around 20 to 25 mph near portions of the coast.
By Monday night, skies should be clear and temperatures will fall sharply away from the immediate shoreline.
Some inland communities could wake up Tuesday to temperatures in the lower-to-mid 50s — a reminder that despite the beach weather hanging around, fall officially arrives next week.
Tuesday Looks Like the Pick of the Forecast
Tuesday should be one of those September Shore days locals wait all summer for.
Sunshine is expected from morning through afternoon with highs around 74 to 75 degrees.
Humidity will be lower, winds should be relatively light and no rain is expected.
The ocean will still be warm enough for September beachgoers, while the air temperature should be much more comfortable for walking the Boardwalk, heading out on the water or spending the afternoon outside.
The dry stretch should continue into Wednesday for most of the region, with temperatures beginning to climb again later in the week.
So don’t write off the weekend because of Sunday’s wet start.
Give the storms a few hours to get out of the way.
September still has some good beach days left.