Update: Severe thunderstorms are sweeping across the state, with warnings issued in many counties
A stormy weekend is in store for New Jersey, with each rainfall forecast over the next three days bringing the potential for severe thunderstorms and flooding.
A line of thunderstorms had already struck the state by 7 a.m. Friday, prompting a severe thunderstorm warning for northern and central New Jersey. They had expired by 8.15 am
The National Weather Service said the early storm was a precursor to more widespread rain expected to begin in the afternoon. Those showers will start northwest of Interstate 95 and move southeast in the evening and taper off Friday night.
Forecasters said any strong storms that do form will bring strong winds and small hail.
Forecasters are not sure where the most intense storms will form.
While much of the Garden State reached the 90s, it won’t feel as warm Thursday. Instead, temperatures will climb into the mid-80s.
First heat wave of the year
Temperatures soared to 95 degrees in East Brunswick, Hillsborough and Moorestown on Thursday, and some areas of the state — including Newark — recorded their first official heat wave of the year, marking three straight days of high temperatures reaching 90 degrees or higher.
Highs at Newark Liberty International Airport hit 92 degrees on Tuesday, 95 degrees on Wednesday and 93 degrees on Thursday, according to data from the New York office of the National Weather Service. As of Friday morning, New Jersey’s two other major weather reporting sites — Trenton Mercer Airport in Ewing and Atlantic City International Airport in Pomona — had yet to record three consecutive days of 90-degree temperatures this year.
Saturday looks to be the best of the two weekend days, with the National Weather Service saying the first half of the day will be dry before showers and thunderstorms develop in the afternoon. Highs will be in the 80s during the day before cooling down into the 70s at night.
Sunday’s forecast calls for heavy rain anytime from morning to evening. Flooding is possible, with excessive rainfall in northern New Jersey and a slight risk elsewhere.
Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s “as it feels tropical before the showers and thunderstorms start,” the weather service said in a forecast briefing Friday morning.
AccuWeather.com is concerned about flooding in New Jersey.
“Cities from Philadelphia to New York City are at risk of flooding this weekend,” the private weather forecasting company said Friday.
Monday night will see a break in the rain, before wet weather is expected Monday night into Tuesday.
Current weather radar
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NJ Advance Media staff writer Len Melisurgo contributed to this report.
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