'High' Thunderstorm Risk, Possible Tornadoes In NJ Forecast: See Timeline

NEW JERSEY — Many New Jerseyans may need to endure a difficult evening commute. Much of the state has an elevated risk for severe thunderstorms, which forecasters expect to begin Tuesday afternoon and continue into the evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Thunderstorms could enter the Garden State as early as 2 p.m. Tuesday but will most likely begin an hour or two later, according to the agency. But the National Weather Service's window of greatest concern falls from 2-8 p.m. Tuesday.

The storms could bring torrential downpours, hail, damaging gusts and isolated tornadoes to the Garden State, AccuWeather says. Western portions of the state are most likely to experience severe weather, with AccuWeather showing that portion of the state at "high" risk (see the map above) and the National Weather Service projecting an "enhanced" risk of severe weather Tuesday for the area.

Enhanced risk means the areas marked in orange on the above map could get numerous severe storms, according to the National Weather Service. Locations labeled yellow on the map carry a slight risk of severe weather, with scattered, severe thunderstorms possible. The green areas along the Jersey Shore have a marginal risk of severe weather, with any severe thunderstorms likely to remain isolated, according to the National Weather Service.

The agency expects the showers and thunderstorms to continue through the evening, before leading into sunnier Wednesday weather. New Jersey began Tuesday with sweltering temperatures in the 90s, and parts of the state could see that again Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

But stormy weather may continue Wednesday evening, with a slight chance of late showers. Thursday's forecasts also show a slight chance of rain during the day.

Here's the National Weather Service's latest North Jersey forecast:

• Tuesday afternoon: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 5 p.m. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind 14 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Tuesday night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 72. West wind 6 to 11 mph becoming light after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.
• Wednesday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Thursday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m.. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. North wind around 7 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Thursday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.

Here's the agency's latest South Jersey forecast:

• Tuesday afternoon: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Tuesday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11 p.m. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
• Wednesday night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Thursday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Thursday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.