Heat, Smoke and Storms: New Jersey’s Unpredictable Weather Day

The day begins with a haze that’s more than just heat. Smoke from distant fires drifts over the state, making visibility poorer and raising concerns about breathing air. Even though temperatures won’t match yesterday’s peak, they will still feel hot—especially in Camden, Gloucester, Mercer, and the upper part of Burlington County. In those areas, heat can reach a “100‑degree feel” because humidity climbs along with the sun.

The National Weather Service warns that this combination of smoke and heat may keep temperatures from soaring too high, but the air quality will be poor. It also says that later in the day isolated thunderstorms could appear, bringing a chance of lightning and gusty winds. The overall threat level for storms is low—just a marginal risk—but the possibility of stronger showers remains.

By Friday, cloud cover should thin and smoke will start to fade. Most places can expect dry skies and temperatures in the 80s, giving people brief relief.

The weekend brings a shift:

• Saturday afternoon could see showers that turn into thunderstorms, some strong enough to cause flash flooding in small areas.
• The prediction center expects rainfall between half an inch and one inch, though pockets of heavier rain are possible.

Sunday may still bring a few lingering showers in the east, but by afternoon the weather will clear again. Monday will stay dry and bright with temperatures in the low to mid‑80s, offering a calm day after the stormy stretch.

The next wave of rain and thunderheads is likely to arrive between Tuesday and Wednesday as a new system rolls in.