101-Degree Heat Index In N.J., Threat Of Thunderstorms, Hail Thursday: NWS

Extreme heat Thursday will give way to potentially strong thunderstorms later in the day in New Jersey, forecasters with the National Weather Service are warning.

There is an excessive heat warning in place through 8 p.m. Friday. Heat index values as high as 101 are possible Thursday throughout the region, according to forecasters.

On Thursday evening, there is also a threat of thunderstorms that could be severe in some places. The storms, which could crop up across the state in the afternoon and evening, may produce strong wind gusts, hail and heavy rainfall along with frequent cloud-to-ground lightning, the NWS said in a Hazardous Weather Outlook.

The Hazardous Weather Outlook is in place across the state.

AccuWeather reports a line of showers and thunderstorms will move across the interior Northeast into Thursday evening.

Here is the forecast:

Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 101. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 a.m.. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. West wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. West wind 6 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.