Chilly Start Warmer Finish (April 7-9)

The weekend should start chilly but much-needed outside awesomeness is right around the corner…

Disco: The strong low that brought rain and storms yesterday is lifting away into SE Canada. You’re currently feeling its back-side flow. High pressure is approaching from our SW. Unfortunately this places New Jersey downwind of colder Canadian flow for Friday and most of Saturday. Therefore temperatures should be on the chilly side for both days. Friday carries the chance for light rain showers and should be the coolest day of the weekend. Saturday should be sunny and beautiful—warmer than Friday but not quite “there” yet. Flow should switch from NW to SW Saturday night into Sunday morning as high pressure departs over the Atlantic Ocean (return flow). Sunday should then start a sustained warmer period that lasts well into next week. Then we’ll be “there” for at least most of next week. 

Friday (April 7) high temperatures should reach into the 40s for much of NNJ. It’s possible that parts of CNJ and SNJ flirt with 50. The chilliest day of the weekend. Skies should be mostly cloudy with light rain possible during afternoon/evening hours. Winds should be breezy-to-gusty out of the W/NW. Overnight lows should fall into the 30s statewide as skies clear but remain breezy/windy. Winds should help protect vegetation but these overnight temperatures do meet frost criteria.

Saturday (April 8) high temperatures should reach into the 50s statewide. I wouldn’t rule out low-60s if the sun overpowers weakening Canadian flow. Skies should be mostly sunny. Winds should be light-to-breezy out of the NW. Overnight lows should fall into the upper-30s/lower-40s statewide. NNJ elevations could flirt with a freeze while many likely experience a frost, less immediate coastal regions.

Sunday (April 9) early-AM temperatures should be the last of the chilly stuff. Afternoon high temperatures should then reach into the 60s statewide. Zero surprise if some locations away from the ocean break into the 70s with the atmospheric setup. Clearly the nicest day of the weekend. The usual caveats apply to the immediate coast with ocean surface temperatures still in the lower-40s (this means not as warm during day as inland and fog possible overnight). Otherwise skies should be mostly sunny. Winds should be light out of the SW. Overnight lows should have trouble falling below 50 for most. NNJ elevations likely into the 40s but well-above frost criteria.

An early look at next week indicates a very mild start with high temperatures capable of reaching into the 80s. The warmest locations would likely be interior CNJ/SNJ and along the I-95 corridor between DC/Baltimore through Philadelphia and through Trenton. NNJ and immediate coastal areas would not be as warm but still pretty darn mild. This would be for at least Monday and Tuesday. Mid-week through at least Friday should not be as warm but still beautiful with highs well into the 60s and plenty of sun. We might be looking at rain, storms and a cold front for Friday into Saturday but let’s revisit that on Sunday night.

I took the above photo earlier this year in Ocean County. Have a great weekend and please be safe! JC

Jonathan Carr

Jonathan Carr (JC) is the founder and sole operator of Weather NJ, New Jersey’s largest independent weather reporting agency. Since 2010, Jonathan has provided weather safety and forecasting services for New Jersey and immediate surrounding areas through the web and social media. Originally branded as Severe NJ Weather (before 2014), Weather NJ is proud to bring you accurate and responsible discussions ahead of high-stakes weather scenarios that impact the garden state. All Weather. All New Jersey.™