Snow, Rain Target NJ As Major Storm Forms: See Latest Timeline

NEW JERSEY — Forecasters are predicting beneficial, widespread rain to help alleviate some of the dry conditions thanks to a major storm brewing that will impact New Jersey in the later half of the week.

But also some flakes flying in parts of the Garden State.

This storm, currently forming over the Great Lakes, will produce gusty winds and soaking rain throughout all of the Garden State, AccuWeather meteorologists said. It's expected to hit Wednesday night through the end of the week.

“This beneficial rain will help with the smoldering brush fires and drought conditions across the northeast,” said AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno.

There might even be a little thunder in some areas and snow in others, according to the National Weather Service. The snow will likely be confined to the higher elevations of the northwest region, though.

And while the rain is badly needed, it won't completely alleviate drought conditions, forecasters warn.

“Rainfall looks highly beneficial given the historical drought we've entered, but locally heavy rain and ponding could be a problem especially where storm drains remain covered by autumn leaves,” National Weather Service forecasters said. “Unfortunately, southern areas where the drought has been quite severe for the last several months already look least likely to benefit from the rains.”

Showers will continue into Thursday and Friday, with brisk winds giving these days a wintry feel. Friday could see again snow at higher elevations, but possibly mixing with showers at lower elevations, according to the National Weather Service.

The weekend will bounce back to drier conditions, however, it will still be seasonably chilly.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 58. North wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the morning.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Calm wind.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Calm wind becoming east around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: Rain, mainly after 10 p.m. Low around 46. East wind 6 to 13 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Thursday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Rain likely, mainly before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday: Periods of rain. High near 41. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Friday Night: Periods of rain. Low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Central Jersey

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Calm wind.

Wednesday: Cloudy, with a high near 60. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: Rain, mainly after 10 p.m. Low around 42. East wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday: Showers, mainly before 1 p.m. High near 51. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Friday Night: A chance of showers before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

South Jersey

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.

Tuesday Night: A slight chance of showers between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday: A slight chance of rain after 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 63. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday Night: Rain. Low around 41. East wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Showers likely, mainly before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 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 slight chance of showers after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Friday: A chance of showers after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday Night: A chance of showers before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.