First Freezing Temps To Hit New Jersey This Week

The coldest air so far this season is headed for New Jersey later this week. Temperatures are expected to drop into the 20s in some parts of the state on Friday. The cold air could linger through Saturday.

But you have some time before you need to break out the hat and mittens: the work week starts off unseasonably warm and wet. The high will approach 70 Monday in the southern parts of the state, and will linger in the 60s in the northern regions. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm are in the forecast.

"Temperatures will be well above average on Monday ahead of a cold front approaching from the west," AccuWeather Meteorologist Steve Travis said.

By the time Thursday rolls around, though, an arctic front "will be knocking on the door," across the Northeast, the National Weather Service says.

Temperatures will fall off dramatically Friday. In South and Central Jersey, the Weather Channel predicts a low temperature in the mid-20s on Friday. In North Jersey, expect it to be a tad chillier, with temperatures in the low 20s.

The bitter cold air will pass by the following week, with daytime highs in the mid-50s. It will stay chilly at night, however. Lows in 30s are predicted throughout the extended forecast.

Here is the forecast:

Today: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. High near 68. Southwest wind 8 to 11 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: A chance of showers before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind 5 to 7 mph.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Northeast wind around 7 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.

Thursday Night:Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Friday:Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.

Friday Night:Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Veterans Day:Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Sunday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Patch file photo