Incoming Cold Front To Bring High Winds To NJ Friday

NEW JERSEY — Spring officially started Thursday, and the season is kicking off with a cold front Thursday night that will bring high winds across the Garden State through Friday, according to the latest forecast.

Some rain Thursday night is in store, though nothing too heavy. Behind that will be the cold front that will cause gusty winds statewide late Thursday into Friday. Expect gusts of up to 45 mph across the entire state, according to the National Weather Service.

These winds will make temperatures cooler than they were on Thursday, with highs in the 50s.

AccuWeather forecasters predict that in late March to April, the polar vortex could reach the eastern part of the U.S., bringing cold snaps to the region.

“It will likely result in more days with temperatures near or even below the historical average rather than above from the Midwest to the Northeast in the coming weeks,” AccuWeather said. “This will lead to hard freezes in the Midwest and Northeast, so gardeners should not be tempted by the recent retreat of wintry conditions.”

Another round of showers Saturday, mostly in North Jersey, will make Sunday about 10 degrees cooler than the day prior, the National Weather Service said. More rain is anticipated in the next week.

Here’s the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday Night: Rain, mainly between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Low around 36. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 52. Breezy, with a northwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.

Sunday Night: Showers likely after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Monday: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Central Jersey

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. South wind around 15 mph.

Thursday Night: Rain, mainly before 5 a.m. Low around 37. South wind 5 to 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 53. Breezy, with a northwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 60. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 50.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Monday: Showers, mainly after 8 a.m. High near 62. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

South Jersey

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday Night: Rain, mainly before 1 a.m. Low around 37. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday: Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 54. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Monday: Showers, mainly after 8 a.m. High near 63. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.