Dangerous Heat, Severe Storms Kick Off August In NJ

NEW JERSEY — In true summer fashion, the first day of August in New Jersey is shaping up to be very hot and humid, and once again, with the risk of thunderstorms, according to the latest forecast.

The main story Thursday is the heat. Almost all of the Garden State, minus Sussex County and the southernmost tip of Cape May County, is under a heat advisory through 8 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters say heat index values - how hot it actually feels - could get up to 103 degrees.

There's also a 20 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms today, according to the National Weather Service.

Storms will be a bigger problem beginning Friday afternoon, forecasters say. Showers and thunderstorms would bring heavy downpours and if severe storms are able to form, they would have damaging wind gusts, the National Weather Service said. At the same time, heat index values are forecasted to be between 100 and 105 degrees.

AccuWeather meteorologists warn of potential travel disruptions this weekend as storms continue through at least Sunday.

"There is the likelihood of slow-moving and repeating thunderstorms along the busy Interstate 95 corridor and other major highways in the region, which may lead to areas of flash flooding and even some road detours in low-lying exposed areas," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 99. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 7 mph in the morning.

Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind 3 to 7 mph.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 91. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2am, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Central Jersey

Thursday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 102. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 102. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8am and 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night: Showers likely before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

South Jersey

Thursday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 102. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 9pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 102. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 60%.