More Severe Weather Expected For N.J. As Tornado Investigation Concludes

Hold onto your hats at graduation, folks.

More severe weather is expected in New Jersey over the next two days just as the National Weather Service has just revealed details of its investigation of a possible tornado touching down in the state Tuesday.

The NWS confirmed a microburst hit Cape May County Tuesday, not a tornado, said NWS meteorologist Lee Robertson. A microburst is high winds that move horizontally and vertically.

Robertson said all of New Jersey could get more serious thunderstorms, gusty winds and heavy rains this week. Showers are possible Wednesday but thunderstorms are in the forecast for Thursday.

A "Hazardous Weather Outlook" has been issued for the entire state, saying there is a chance those thunderstorms will be accompanied by "strong wind gusts, hail, heavy downpours and dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning."

"If they're (ceremonies) outside, they need to pay attention to the weather," he said. "It could be anywhere tomorrow."

Here is the forecast:

Wednesday night: A chance of showers after 4am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 64. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a 10th of an inch possible.

Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 78. Southwest wind around 8 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Northeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a 10th of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.