Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued For New Jersey; Strong Storms Possible

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for New Jersey, warning of the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms on Friday.

The storm risk will be mainly late this afternoon through the first half of tonight, with the main threats being damaging wind gusts and hail, according to the National Weather Service.

"I'm not saying everybody is going to get it. The northern half of New Jersey has a better chance than the southern half," said Larry Nirenberg, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

Showers and thunderstorms will taper off late tonight with the passage of the cold front early Saturday, the NWS says. Don't be fooled by the word "cold," though. It will be the complete opposite on Saturday, with high temperatures reaching the mid-90s and the heat index creeping past 100.

Here's the full forecast:

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 101. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 9 p.m. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. West wind 7 to 11 mph.

Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 94. North wind around 7 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72