Western Jersey Weather

The heat advisory to our south has been expanded northward and now includes Hunterdon, Warren and Morris counties in NJ and Northampton in PA. Today will be the hottest day of the week. Humidity will stick around until Thursday afternoon.

With heat and humidity in the summertime coes the chances for afternoon and evening showers and thundershowers. We had some of these in our area on Sunday. Just to give you an idea on how spotty these can be on the north end of my township one location received over 2″ of new rain and on the extreme southern end: 0.30″

The risk for severe weather threat Wednesday is only marginal in our area. Any locations that get these will mostly be impacted by brief heavy rain that could result in some flash flooding of smaller rivers and roadways.

Another heatwave starts for western New Jersey this summer. Today will be our first of 3 or 4 days with high temperatures at or above 90.

Some areas had a little break last evening in northern sections with some rain showers and perhaps a thundershower. Some thundershowers are over northwestern PA right now. These are forecast to mostly stay to our north. Anyone can receive a scattered shower or thundershower the rest of today or tonight but odds favor most will not.

341 PM EDT Thu Jul 18 2019

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON FRIDAY TO 10 PM EDT
SUNDAY...

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued an
Excessive Heat Warning, which is in effect from noon Friday to
10 PM EDT Sunday. The Excessive Heat Watch is no longer in
effect.

* HEAT INDEX VALUES...100 to 105 on Friday afternoon, 105 to 110
  on Saturday afternoon, and 100 to 105 on Sunday afternoon.

* TIMING...The most dangerous of the heat and humidity will occur
  from mid afternoon into the early evening each day. However,
  overnight minimum temperatures will only drop into the mid to
  upper 70s, providing little relief from daytime heat.

* IMPACTS...The excessive heat and humidity may cause heat
  stress or heat stroke. The most susceptible individuals are
  the elderly and those with pre-existing health issues.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible, reschedule strenuous activities to the early morning or
the late evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion
and heat stroke. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing.
Drink plenty of water.

Young children and pets should never be left unattended in a
vehicle under any circumstance. This is especially true during
hot weather when a car`s interior can reach lethal temperatures
in a matter of minutes.

To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks
in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat
should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an
emergency, call 9 1 1.

An Excessive Heat Warning means that a prolonged period of
dangerously hot temperatures will occur. The combination of hot
temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a DANGEROUS
SITUATION in which heat illnesses are likely. Drink plenty of
fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and
check up on relatives and neighbors.

Hopefully you were able to get outside yesterday and enjoy a top 10 weather day. Low humidity was delightful. I personally was able to get in a 30 mile bicycle ride and it was great.

Heat and humidity are returning to our area and will be here through Sunday at least. Today will see temperatures at 90 or slightly above. The trend should continue everyday with the possible exception of Thursday. Thursday may only be in the 80’s due to cloud cover as the remnants of Barry pass overhead.

There is an excessive heat watch to our south. Look for this to be extended further north if conditions warrant.

Wednesday evening and overnight into Thursday morning look to be the greatest potential for precipitation for western New Jersey. There could be some heavier showers and thundershowers then but nothing too severe looking at this point. The above map show a potential for only marginal severe weather threat for Wednesday. That’s a 1 out of 5.