A wet, windy and chilly end to the week is in store for New Jersey as a coastal storm brings heavy rainfall, gusty winds and a couple of snowflakes, according to the latest forecast.
The storm will strengthen off the coast as a mild Wednesday turns to increasing clouds as the day progresses, National Weather Service forecasters said.
Rain will develop Thursday into Friday.
The air will be cold enough that there may be a rain/snow mix across the higher elevations of the northwestern portion of the state, forecasters said. However, accumulating snow will miss New Jersey. AccuWeather snowfall projections range from a coating to 1 to 3 inches nearby.
The amount of precipitation will depend on the storm's track. However, forecasters expect that the bulk of the rain will fall over the northern half of the state.
Minor tidal flooding is possible Thursday and Friday along the coast and Delaware Bay.
Strong winds are in store, with the strongest occurring as the storm moves farther away, according to the National Weather Service.
Following the storm, conditions will get cold and windy for the weekend.
"The strongest winds look to occur on Saturday, with peak gusts to about 35 mph, then while still gusty on Sunday it appears the speeds come down a little," National Weather Service forecasters said. "Daytime temperatures on Friday and Saturday should not get out of the 40s for many areas, with temperatures at night dropping into the 20s to low 30s."
This will bring an end to the growing season where it remains active in South Jersey.
Temperatures will start to moderate Sunday through Tuesday, forecasters said.
"Despite that, high temperatures are only in the upper 40s to low 50s each day which is still below average for this time of year," the National Weather Service said.
Here's the latest forecast.
North Jersey
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. West wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: A chance of rain, mainly after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Thursday: Rain before 10 a.m., then rain and possibly a thunderstorm between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., then rain after 1 p.m. High near 57. East wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: Rain. Low around 37. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday: Rain likely, mainly before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Friday Night: A slight chance of rain and snow before 1am, then a slight chance of snow between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., then a slight chance of rain after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 47.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.
Central Jersey
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Thursday: Rain, mainly after 9 a.m. High near 63. East wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: Rain likely, mainly after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Friday: Rain likely, mainly before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Friday Night: A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.
South Jersey
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph after midnight.
Thursday: Rain, mainly after 10 a.m. High near 65. East wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Friday: A chance of rain before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Friday Night: A slight chance of rain after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.
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