Severe Storms, Tornado Risk, Extreme Heat All In Latest NJ Forecast

NEW JERSEY — After a mild Monday and a tranquil Tuesday, expect Wednesday to be hot, humid and stormy, with the potential for tornadoes in the Garden State, according to the latest forecast.

Tuesday's weather will be mild, with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s, forecasters with the National Weather Service said. Low dew points will give New Jersey a taste of the "dry heat" people in the west are used to, forecasters said.

Then overnight, clouds will increase, dew points will creep back up and temperatures will only drop to the low-to-mid 70s, according to the forecast.

Wednesday will be hot and humid, mostly sunny during the day, the National Weather Service said. It'll be in the mid 90s for most inland locations, with heat indices around 100 degrees. A heat advisory has been issued for the middle of the state.

During the afternoon and evening, there will be the potential for severe weather. All of New Jersey is under a "slight risk" according to the National Weather Service.

"The main threat should be damaging wind gusts considering the environment," the National Weather Service said. "However given the strong low level directional and speed shear there will also be the potential for one or two tornadoes, especially over northeast PA into NW NJ."

There likely won't be widespread flooding, forecasters say, and the storms won't be enough to temper the region's latest dry spell. The Climate Prediction Center warned that the recent warm and dry conditions could cause rapid onset drought.

After that, temperatures will be comfortable and seasonable before you can expect more heat, humidity and storms Saturday and Sunday.

Here's the latest forecast:

North Jersey

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 92. West wind 8 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 95. Southwest wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers after 2am. Low around 71. Southwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers before 8am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 85. Northwest wind around 8 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 83.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85.

Central Jersey

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 102. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 69. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of showers before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

South Jersey

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5pm. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 101. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Some of the storms could be severe. Low around 69. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 88.