Residents across New Jersey should prepare for a rough stretch of weather that starts tonight and could culminate in a potentially dangerous heat emergency by next week.
The National Weather Service has issued alerts for scattered showers and possible thunderstorms developing over far northwestern New Jersey as early as this evening, with the heaviest activity expected around midnight. While the severe weather threat remains low, locally heavy rainfall could trigger minor flooding in vulnerable areas.
Conditions will turn sticky overnight as dew points creep into the lower 60s, making the air feel heavy and uncomfortable. Friday brings little relief — temperatures are expected to climb back into the upper 80s and low 90s with rising humidity before a cold front sweeps through Friday night into Saturday.
That cold front will be the main event of the weekend, delivering widespread showers, locally heavy rain, and scattered thunderstorms across the state. Rainfall totals of a half inch to one inch are expected, with isolated areas potentially seeing more. The rain is badly needed — New Jersey has been locked in severe drought conditions for months due to persistently low rainfall.
Saturday’s temperatures will drop noticeably into the 70s to low 80s under cloudy, wet skies. Drier conditions are expected to return Sunday as high pressure builds in from the north.
But the relief may be short-lived.
Forecasters are now expressing increasing confidence that an intense heat event will grip New Jersey starting next Wednesday and lasting through the end of the week. High temperatures are forecast to reach well into the 90s, with heat index values — the “feels like” temperature combining heat and humidity — approaching 100 degrees.
There is currently a 50% to 70% probability that temperatures will exceed 95 degrees next Thursday and Friday. A moderate to major risk for heat-related health impacts has already been flagged for Wednesday.
Residents, particularly the elderly and those without air conditioning, are urged to begin preparing now.
