Storm Thursday/Friday To Produce Major Weather Changes For NJ

NEW JERSEY — It may feel like springtime in New Jersey, with the state receiving warmer temperatures and bouts of rain — sometimes heavy, with harsh winds — over the next two days. But a quick shift into colder conditions will follow, according to forecasters.

Rain will begin to spread in the region around noontime Thursday, the National Weather Service says. A lull in precipitation during the evening will precede more rainy periods Friday, which could get locally intense at times.

Winds will reach 15-20 mph Friday, with gusts up to 30 mph throughout and as high as 40 mph in the western portions of the state, according to regional weather officials.

As of Thursday morning, the National Weather Service hasn't issued any advisories to indicate that conditions will become hazardous.

Temperatures will peak Thursday in the mid-50s to mid-60s throughout the state, the National Weather Service predicts. Friday morning will feature highs in the low-to-mid-60s, but a wave of cold air will dip temperatures throughout the day.

That cold wave will bring drastic temperature changes into the weekend, with temperatures falling 25-35 degrees in 24 hours by Saturday morning, AccuWeather says. For instance, New York City will go from Friday morning highs in the low 60s to Saturday morning temperatures in the upper 20s, which will feel like they're in the teens.

"It will go from feeling like late April to like mid-February in about 24 hours," said AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno.

But conditions will likely remain dry this weekend.

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

• Thursday: Rain after 1 p.m. High near 64. Light and variable wind becoming southeast around 6 mph 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 before 10 p.m., then a chance of showers after 10 p.m. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to near 55 by 8 p.m., then rising to around 59 during the remainder of the night. Southwest wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
• Friday: Showers, mainly before 3 p.m. Temperature rising to near 62 by 9 a.m., then falling to around 46 during the remainder of the day. Breezy, with a southwest wind 17 to 20 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
• Friday night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 9 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 27. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Blustery, with a northwest wind 14 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 43. Northwest wind around 11 mph.
• Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 49.

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

• Thursday: A chance of showers, mainly after 2 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 55. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
• Thursday night: A slight chance of showers before 10 p.m., then a chance of showers after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 51. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
• Friday: Showers, mainly before 3 p.m. High near 56. Breezy, with a southwest wind 20 to 25 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Friday night: A slight chance of showers before 10 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Blustery, with a northwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 42. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
• Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48.