Forecasters Release Summer Weather Outlook for NJ

Forecasters say warmer than usual temperatures are expected across much of New Jersey this summer, and the weather could also be dryer than normal. The weather is expected to be mostly dry over the next three months as millions prepare to take to the roads and enjoy the beaches at the Jersey Shore or take a summer break in the woods and mountains.

The Weather Channel, which released its long-term summer outlook Monday, says that only the northern Midwest and the Gulf states are expected to have a wetter-than-average summer.

A hurricane forecast released recently also says that New Jersey and other coastal states will largely escape the threat of another damaging storm season.

Read more: 2017 Hurricane Forecast Released For New Jersey, Atlantic Coast

The National Weather Service says the only area that could be wetter than normal could be the northern part of the state, in the Sussex County area.

Ironically, it looks like climate change could be behind the reasons for steady, warm and perhaps pleasant weather this year.

Weather patterns are supposed to transition to El Niño, the warming of the equatorial eastern and central Pacific Ocean temperatures that's supposed to happen in the late summer. Typically, the weather pattern leading up to it is cooler than normal, forecasters say.

Not this year.

Todd Crawford, chief meteorologist with The Weather Company, told The Weather Channel that this summer will not be particularly cool "given the recent pronounced global-scale warming."

It could also lead to a shift from recent years during which New Jersey has had some rainy weather and damaging storms that have dominated during periods of the summer. If the forecasters are correct, we could expect a fairly pleasant summer.

Read more: 'Tornado' Rips Through South Jersey: Eyewitnesses

Here are some of the The Weather Channel's monthly forecasts:

June

The greatest chance for warmer than average temperatures this summer for the Northeast will be in June. Above average temperatures are also likely in the Southeast, as well as for much of the West.

July

In July, temperatures are expected to be well above average in most states, though they'll be cooler than average from the Upper Midwest into the Ohio Valley and the eastern Great Lakes.

August

The expanse of hotter than average temperatures will grow in August, but most of the Northeast will likely experience near to slightly below average temperatures. Temperatures in the mid-Atlantic and eastern Great Lakes will generally be near to slightly above average for the last month of summer.

Here is the extended AccuWeather forecast into July:

Patch file photo