Potential Nor’easter Could Impact Weekend Forecast For NJ

NEW JERSEY — Another wet, windy weekend is possible for New Jersey as meteorologists predict a “significant storm” with the capability to become a nor’easter will develop along the East Coast late this week and into the weekend.

Thunderstorms will likely bring a “thorough soaking” and gusty winds to much of the northeastern U.S. this weekend, said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty. There has not been widespread dry weather for the weekend in New Jersey and around the region since around Labor Day, forecasters added.

Thursday should see plenty of sunshine, but National Weather Service forecasters say there could be some light rain Friday – with mild temperatures, and “somewhat humid conditions by late October standards.”

Depending on the timing of the storm, Saturday “could feature steadier rain but perhaps milder temperatures, or more showery weather but highs closer to 60,” National Weather Service forecasters said.

The National Weather Service added that gusty winds could be on tap Saturday night or Sunday. Scattered showers may linger into Sunday across northwest New Jersey, the National Weather Service said.

According to AccuWeather forecasters, this stormy pattern will evolve from former Super Typhoon Bolaven, which curved east of Japan across the northern Pacific and will first bring stormy weather to western Canada and the northwestern United States. This will set up a big dip in the jet stream over eastern states late this week and into the weekend, AccuWeather long-range forecasters predicted.

Storms will take shape as a cold front advances from the Midwest into south-central states this week, and showers and thunderstorms will approach the region by Friday. As energy from the system pivots eastward and taps into Atlantic moisture, AccuWeather Chief On-Air meteorologist Bernie Rayno predicts a storm will form along the Carolina coast and begin to track northward.

“The storm will strengthen significantly as it travels northward on Saturday night and Sunday and may even curl northwestward over the interior of New England,” Rayno said. “The storm is likely to evolve into a potent nor’easter and produce a zone of heavy rain, strong winds and building seas.”

This would mark the seventh weekend in a row with rain on at least one of the weekend days in the majority of the Mid-Atlantic, AccuWeather noted. The Rutgers NJ Weather Network noted that statewide precipitation levels last month measured 7.55 inches, which is 3.39 inches above normal - and ranks as the ninth-wettest September in state history.

Here is a look at this weekend’s forecast in New Jersey, from the National Weather Service:

North Jersey

Friday: Showers likely, mainly after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 66. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Friday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 54. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Saturday: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 58.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Central Jersey

Friday: A chance of rain after 8am. Cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Friday Night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Saturday: Rain likely, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Saturday Night: Rain likely before 8pm, then a chance of showers between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Breezy.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.

South Jersey

Friday: A chance of rain after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Friday Night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Saturday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. Breezy.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40.