TRENTON, NJ – Extreme heat and dangerous storms are expected in New Jersey on Wednesday and Thursday.
Thunderstorms will develop from the Lower/Middle Mississippi Valley into the Tennessee and Ohio Valley, reaching the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast by Wednesday. An upper-level ridge over the west-central U.S. will cause hazardous heat, with temperatures soaring into the upper 90s and low 100s in the Plains and Mississippi Valley. The heat index may reach 110, leading to Heat Advisories and Excessive Heat Warnings. Overnight temperatures will stay in the mid- to upper 70s, providing little relief. This early summer heat increases heat-related stress, particularly for those without reliable air conditioning.
The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a Heat Advisory from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT on Wednesday. Heat index values up to 100 are expected in northern Delaware, central, northern, and southern New Jersey, and southeast Pennsylvania. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.
Residents are advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned spaces, avoid the sun, and check on relatives and neighbors. Monitoring the latest forecasts and warnings is recommended.
On Wednesday, thunderstorms are expected after 5 p.m., with severe storms possible. The high will be near 95, with a heat index up to 101. Precipitation chances are 30%. Showers and thunderstorms will continue into Wednesday night, with severe storms possible and a low around 69. Precipitation chances increase to 80%. Rainfall amounts could be between a quarter and half an inch.
On Thursday, showers and thunderstorms may occur mainly before 8 a.m., with a high near 86. The chance of precipitation is 30%, with less than a tenth of an inch expected, except in thunderstorms.