New Jersey Braces for a Sudden Change in Weather

Upcoming Cold Front Expected in New Jersey

New Jersey Braces for a Sudden Change in Weather

New Jersey is headed for a major weather shift this week. Temperatures are expected to turn sharply colder, with the possibility of widespread frost by this weekend. Forecasters are also watching the potential for severe thunderstorms.

A strong cold front moves through Friday, bringing a much colder air mass into New Jersey, National Weather Service forecasters said.

The National Weather Service said a powerful cold front moving through New Jersey Friday will bring gusty winds, periods of rain and the possibility of thunderstorms, followed by much colder temperatures heading into the weekend.

Rain is expected to become more widespread and heavier from Thursday night through Friday. Forecasters noted, however, that some aspects of the storm system and its impacts remain uncertain.

Thunderstorms could develop as the powerful weather system moves through New Jersey, depending on how much atmospheric instability is present and the timing of the cold front. Forecasters said a few stronger storms cannot be ruled out, particularly if more intense thunderstorms form along the front.

Winds could become quite strong Friday night, with gusts reaching as high as 50 mph as temperatures begin to fall sharply. The coldest air mass of the season so far is expected to settle over the region Saturday and continue into Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures Saturday night are expected to fall into the 30s across much of the state, with some locations in North Jersey potentially dropping into the 20s.

The arrival of the colder air will bring New Jersey's first widespread threat of frost and freezing temperatures this season. A hard freeze is not expected for areas south of Interstate 78, although typically colder locations could approach the freezing mark. Frost will be possible in other areas. Temperatures are expected to moderate and return closer to seasonal averages by early next week, with generally dry weather expected.

Check the latest forecast.