WEATHER ALERT: 'Drenching' Thunderstorms Will End N.J. Drought, Torrid Heat

It all should end tonight.

A torrid upper-90-degree heat wave that’s capped an 18-day drought should come to end Wednesday night and Thursday as drenching thunderstorms are expected to arrive in the region.

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for all of New Jersey, saying showers and thunderstorms producing heavy rain may lead to flooding in poor drainage and low-lying areas through Thursday.

”We are looking at a front this evening and we’re looking at some pretty good rain, just a lot of rain,” said Jim Bunker, a National Weather Service Meteorologist.

Despite having a “small trace” of rain on Aug. 31, New Jersey hasn’t had anything since Aug. 21, when .52 inches fell in the state.

A number of towns have imposed water restrictions, and a numbers of school districts closed early on Tuesday as they battle the effects of heat and drought.

Firefighters have also been battling a 1,000-acre blaze in the Pine Barrens and Ocean and Burlington counties that has raged on the dry soil.

Here is the forecast through Friday:

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 78. Northeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 65. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday: A chance of showers, mainly before 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. North wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a 10th of an inch possible.