Thunderstorms Back In Weekend Forecast As Hurricane Ernesto Draws Near

NEW JERSEY — A sharp change from this week’s pleasant weather is on tap as a storm system moves in from the west and Hurricane Ernesto off the coast to the east prompts poor conditions at the shore.

Friday will be warm and dry, but risks of showers and thunderstorms will increase heading into Saturday, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service.

It'll also be humid, forecasters say. There may be locally heavy rain and some thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon and evening hours. The entire weekend isn't expected to be a washout.

"The coastal areas may remain dry during much of Saturday," the National Weather Service said, but Hurricane Ernesto will create dangerous rip currents and rough surf even though the storm is tracking east of our area.

This weekend turns unsettled as showers and some t-storms increase at times, especially each afternoon and evening. High Risk of dangerous rip currents and rough surf at all New Jersey and Delaware beaches this weekend. #njwx #dewx #pawx #mdwx pic.twitter.com/fcQZtB9K2j
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) August 16, 2024

Since it's been dry this past week, flooding is not expected to be much of a concern.

"There can still be flash flooding of small streams and urban areas where it manages to pour for a couple of hours," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said. "But that sort of condition would tend to be highly localized."

A flash flooding risk is slightly increased for Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind 3 to 7 mph.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Southeast wind 5 to 11 mph.

Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 7 to 9 mph.

Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Central Jersey

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: Isolated showers between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday Night: Scattered thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then scattered showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. High near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 2 a.m., then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

South Jersey

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 88. West wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: Isolated showers before 11 a.m., then isolated showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.