TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey residents should prepare for a stretch of wet and cloudy weather beginning Thursday afternoon, with a strong chance of rain and potential thunderstorms by Friday night, according to the latest National Weather Service forecast.
Key Points
- Clouds increase Wednesday night with lows in the mid-30s
- Rain chances rise Thursday night through Friday, with thunderstorms possible
- Up to an inch of rain expected by Friday night

Tonight: Skies will turn increasingly cloudy overnight, with temperatures dipping to around 35 degrees. Winds will be light, shifting from the south to calm by midnight.
Thursday: Expect mostly cloudy skies with a high near 53. A slight chance of rain may develop after 2 p.m., with southeast winds increasing to between 5 and 15 mph. Rain chances remain low during the day at 20%.
Thursday Night: Rain chances climb to 50% after 8 p.m., with overnight lows around 42. Precipitation amounts will be light, with southeast winds between 5 and 10 mph.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms expected Friday
Friday: Rain becomes likely after 2 p.m. as a stronger system moves in. Temperatures will hold near 49 degrees, with east winds between 10 and 15 mph. Between a quarter and half of an inch of rain is expected.
Friday Night: Forecasters predict a wet and potentially stormy night, with rain and possible thunderstorms throughout the evening. Rainfall totals could range from three-quarters to one inch, with lows near 43.
Weekend outlook
Saturday: Rain is expected through early afternoon, then tapering to scattered showers. Highs will be near 53. The chance of precipitation stands at 70%.
Saturday Night: Cloudy skies continue with a 40% chance of lingering showers before 2 a.m. Overnight lows will be around 40.