Thunderstorms, 80-Degree Temps In NJ Forecast On Thursday

NEW JERSEY - It’s not summertime just yet, but the Garden State will get a taste of 80-degree temperatures and afternoon storms this week, forecasters say.

According to the National Weather Service, Thursday will likely see a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. and before 8 p.m., paired with temperatures up to 83 degrees.

The intensity of the storm is largely unknown, as the storm strength is “contingent on the storms becoming well organized, which is not a certainty,” the National Weather Service said in a Wednesday forecast discussion.

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Wednesday is expected to be partly sunny with wind gusts up to 20 mph. Temperatures should be about 17 degrees above normal, with up to 80 degrees expected in North and Central Jersey. The south and Jersey Shore regions should see cooler temperatures between 63 and 73 degrees, forecasters said.

The “unseasonably warm” weather will remain in the state Thursday, with high temperatures between upper 70s and low 80s in most locations, the National Weather Service said.

Thunderstorm activity should weaken by Thursday night with the loss of daytime heating, forecasters added. Showers and clouds may linger into the daytime hours before moving offshore Friday morning.

Here’s the latest forecast:

Wednesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 81. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind 5 to 10 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.