N.J. weather: Our first heat wave of the year is now official, as temps soar to 90 degrees again – NJ.com

Keep those air conditioners humming. New Jersey is now officially in the midst of its first heat wave of the year, with temperatures soaring to 90 degrees or higher Friday afternoon.

That makes this the third straight day with 90-degree heat at two of the state’s major climate reporting stations: Newark Liberty International Airport and Atlantic City International Airport.

The third major climate site, Trenton-Mercer Airport in Ewing, recorded its first 90-degree temperature reading of 2019 on Thursday, so it still needs two more 90-degree days to hit official heat-wave status.

The mercury has already hit 90 degrees as of early Friday afternoon, making this the first official heat wave of the year in Atlantic City and Newark.

Len Melisurgo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The mercury has already hit 90 degrees as of early Friday afternoon, making this the first official heat wave of the year in Atlantic City and Newark.

Hottest temperatures so far today

As of 1:30 p.m. on Friday, these were the places across the state with the hottest temperature readings, according to the National Weather Service and the New Jersey Weather & Climate Network, based at Rutgers University.

  • Vineland: 94 degrees
  • Cherry Hill: 93 degrees
  • Sicklerville: 93 degrees
  • Upper Deerfield: 93 degrees
  • Mannington Twp.: 92 degrees
  • Mansfield: 92 degrees
  • Oswego Lake: 92 degrees
  • Woodbine: 92 degrees
  • Woodstown: 92 degrees
  • Pennsauken: 92 degrees
  • Sewell: 92 degrees
  • South Harrison Twp.: 92 degrees
  • West Deptford: 92 degrees

Len Melisurgo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Warm ocean temperatures

The air isn’t the only thing that’s heating up on Friday. Surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean also have been rising to very comfortable levels, ranging from 73 degrees in Atlantic City to 74 degrees in Cape May and 76 degrees in Sandy Hook as of early Friday afternoon.

Ocean temperatures in late June normally range from 63 degrees to 69 degrees along the Jersey Shore. They typically don’t rise into the 70s until late July or early August.

But three straight days of hot air — coupled with light winds and calm seas — have helped warm the Atlantic surface temperatures this week, said Jonathan O’Brien, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.

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N.J. weather: Jersey Shore weekend looks hot, but watch for threat of afternoon thunderstorms (6/29/2019 and 6/30/2019)

The first heat wave of 2019 is expected to linger into part of this weekend in New Jersey, and even the Shore beaches will feel toasty. Keep an eye on the sky for some possible afternoon thunderstorms.

Air quality alert

One of the downsides of this hot weather: The air quality has deteriorated in many parts of New Jersey, prompting the state Department of Environmental Protection to issue a “code orange” alert in 14 of the state’s 21 counties on Friday.

The counties under the air quality alert are: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset and Union.

“A code orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups,” the National Weather Service says. “Sensitive groups include children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases, and the elderly. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.”

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.