July Heat, Humidity Press NJ: When Is Relief In Sight?

NEW JERSEY — Storms with spurts of heavy rain and wind provided some relief from the heat this week in New Jersey, but residents sweated their way through several days of poor air quality and humid temperatures.

Muggy conditions will continue as well, with temperatures this weekend in the mid-to-upper 80s across the state, except for those locations where the ocean breeze cools things a bit. Heat index values are in the low-to-mid 90s Friday with the humidity.

There are showers and storms predicted to affect parts of the state Friday, and forecasters are monitoring an active system that could dump two inches of rain per hour over the Garden State. Any precipitation or storm activity could cut through the muggy air, but won't push it away entirely. Related article —Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms Possible This Weekend In NJ

It definitely has felt like summer across the state. And though unofficial records show the planet hit record high temperatures this week, NWS forecasters said these local temperatures are “nothing unusual.”

The Mount Holly office (which forecasts for much of New Jersey) noted that after a very cool June, people are still getting used to what summer feels like.

“We've heard from a lot of people that it seems exceptionally uncomfortable of late,” the NWS said. “This is probably a matter of acclimatization for most.

"While the heat and humidity we have presently is nothing unusual, June was unseasonably cool, the coolest in almost 40 years in Philadelphia," the weather office continued. "This kept most people from adapting to the higher heat typical of this time of year, making it feel worse than usual.”

In replies to social media users, the NWS said there may be a brief break from the humidity “maybe for a few days next week.”

After Sunday's storms roll through, Accuweather predicts slightly cooler temperatures throughout much of next week in the Northeast, tending to run "below historical averages with widespread highs ranging from the upper 70s to the mid-80s."

A storm that will develop near Hudson Bay, Canada could direct thick smoke from the ongoing wildfires back into the northern United States beginning later this weekend. The smoke could impact Northeastern states again, according to Accuweather.