Mini-Heatwave On Tap For Garden State

Hottest Temperatures of the Year to Date on the Way for Sunday and Monday

True summer has finally arrived in New Jersey. Prior to Sunday, the warmest temperature of the year at Greg’s Weather Center in South Plainfield had only topped out at just under 90 degrees (89.8 degrees back in June). June 2015 was the coolest June in five years at GWC with an average temperature of 69.62 degrees. So far in July, the average has been higher than it was last year, but the maximum has been four degrees cooler than that of July 2014. All of this is expected to change over the next couple of days.

Late Friday night, a warm front passed through the region, and ushered in warmer and more humid air on Saturday. Cloud cover in the earlier part of the day prevented temperatures from skyrocketing, and suppressed the oppressive heat and humidity until the late afternoon and early evening. Some parts of the Central Jersey area was hit with some heavy showers and thunderstorms on Saturday morning, and another round passed through Northwestern New Jersey during the early evening before fizzling out thanks to the decreased sunlight.

However, the heat and humidity have stayed behind, and they will both continue to linger at least through Monday night. A Heat Advisory is already in effect for much of the Garden State for heat indices between 100 and 104 degrees from now until 8:00 PM on Monday. Meanwhile, an Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for Southwestern New Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania including the Philadelphia Metro Area until 8:00 PM on Monday. Heat index values in those regions are expected to climb to between 102 and 107 degrees.

Right now at GWC in South Plainfield, located in the Northwestern corner of Middlesex County, the temperature is already up to 79 degrees (actually 78.8). The dew point has topped out at 74 degrees and the tandem of temperature and humidity have combined to produce a peak heat index of 84. Expect those numbers to go much higher as we have more heating of the day and get into the peak sunlight hours. The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey is forecasting the temperature to climb up into the mid 90s this afternoon with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms this evening.

On Monday, more of the same is expected with a forecasted high of 95 at GWC in South Plainfield along with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms during the day and evening. Things get a little bit cooler on Tuesday, but still hot at 92 degrees with another 20 percent chance of storms. The middle and latter portions of the week look much better with sunny skies and temperatures dropping into relatively more comfortable mid to upper 80s. So, for the next 48 to 72 hours, drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun as much as possible, wear loose and light colored clothing, and if you have to go outside, take plenty of breaks.