Storms Likely To Pepper NJ Over Independence Day Weekend

NEW JERSEY -Following a near record-setting heat wave that cooked the Garden State this week, forecasters say that thunderstorms are expected to loom over New Jersey until Saturday - but skies are predicted to mostly clear just in time for the Independence Day holiday.

The National Weather Service notes that thunderstorms are likely all day Friday with a slightly lower chance of storms on Saturday afternoon. Throughout most of northern New Jersey and all of central and south, dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning is expected Friday, with some storms likely to produce small hail.

Saturday will see a chance of scattered showers before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. and then again after 8 p.m. A flood risk may be possible amid the storms.

The silver lining: forecasters predict mostly clear skies for Independence Day, save for a passing shower sometime after 2 p.m., according to AccuWeather.

Good morning! Quieter weather overall today than yesterday, but another round of scattered showers and storms is possible this afternoon. We will also be doing further investigation of damage from yesterday. We'll release details as they're available. #NJwx #PAwx #DEwx #MDwx pic.twitter.com/cZVFQHjYY3
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) July 2, 2021

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook in 10 counties as of 5:02 a.m. on Friday, in effect through Friday night. "Hot conditions could result in heat exhaustion with prolonged exposure" through Thursday of next week, the weather agency said. There is also a risk of rip currents over the weekend due to Thursday night's storm.

A Hazardous Weather Outlook is issued when there is a potential for severe weather events. In the counties listed below, there is potential for heat-related illness through Friday night:

• Hunterdon
• Somerset
• Middlesex
• Monmouth
• Mercer
• Gloucester
• Camden
• Burlington
• Ocean
• Atlantic

Here is the latest forecast:

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Cloudy, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: A chance of showers before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Northeast wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Temperatures to hover around 70.

Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Independence Day: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.