Severe Storms Head To NJ: Will They Break The Heat Wave?

NEW JERSEY — Thursday marks the summer solstice, and the continuation of New Jersey's first heat wave of the year. Now, forecasters are saying the potential of severe thunderstorms could, provide relief — albeit temporary — from the scorching temperatures.

Most of the state is still under a heat advisory, according to the National Weather Service, with temperatures today being slightly higher than yesterday. Heat indices of 93 to 98 are expected, but there likely won't be any record-breaking temperatures.

The rest of the week will see hot and increasingly humid weather. A cold front moves in Friday, and forecasters say it will produce slow-moving thunderstorms for North Jersey. These will bring heavy rain and localized flooding, with severe thunderstorms possibly having damaging wind gusts, according to the National Weather Service.

It'll still be hot and humid as the storms taper off, though. The cold front will keep North Jersey temperatures in the low- to mid-90s Saturday. Inland, however, could see a heat index of 105 during the weekend.

Showers and thunderstorms are again in the forecast for Saturday afternoon and evening, extending down to Central Jersey.

An excessive heat watch for the entire state remains in effect through Sunday, which is expected to be even hotter and more humid. But cloud cover and further potential thunderstorms could prevent temperatures from reaching forecasted highs, the National Weather Service said. However, it still is going to be hot.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 98. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 6 mph.

Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 98. West wind 6 to 8 mph.

Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable.

Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91. South wind 5 to 7 mph.

Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.

Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 97.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Central Jersey

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 96. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

South Jersey

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 90. South wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Sunday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98.

Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.