N.J. weather: Severe thunderstorms could bring wet end to July heat wave – NJ.com
It appears the hottest days of the week are behind us, after some spots in New Jersey saw temperatures soar as high as 98 degrees on Sunday and Monday, and many parts of the state were sizzling at 95, 96 or 97 degrees — with high humidity making it feel even worse.
Forecasters say this summer’s longest heat wave, which started in some areas of New Jersey on Friday and spread across most of the state on Sunday, will continue in central and southern counties Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as temperatures linger in the low 90s.
On top of the intense heat and high humidity, the state could get hit with rain showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday. The National Weather Service said some of the thunderstorms could be severe, with small hail and damaging wind gusts of 58 mph or stronger.
Hottest temperature readings in N.J.
With more than 70 weather reporting stations collecting data on a daily basis across New Jersey — some operated by the National Weather Service and most by the Rutgers NJ Weather Network — only two stations reached a high temperature of 98 degrees during the current heat wave.
Moorestown in Burlington County hit 98 degrees on Sunday, and Miller Air Park in Ocean County hit 98 on Sunday and again on Monday.
Temperature data shows five New Jersey towns hit 97 degrees on Sunday:
— Berkeley Township in Ocean County
— East Brunswick in Middlesex County
— Hamilton in Mercer County
— Mansfield in Burlington County
— Sickerville in Camden County
These places reached a high of 97 degrees on Monday:
— Atlantic City International Airport in Pomona, Atlantic County
— Berkeley Township in Ocean County
— Belmar/Farmingdale in Monmouth County
— Point Pleasant in Ocean County
— Seaside Heights in Ocean County
— Sicklerville in Camden County
— Toms River in Ocean County
— West Creek in Ocean County
Air quality alert
Aside from the heat and uncomfortable humidity, the air quality is expected to be bad in many areas of the state on Tuesday, because of high levels of ozone in the lower atmosphere.
The state Department of Environmental Protection has issued a “code orange air quality alert” for 12 counties across New Jersey, primarily near and east of the New Jersey Turnpike corridor.
The counties included in the alert are: Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic and Union.
The alert essentially means air pollution concentrations in those counties could become unhealthy for sensitive groups, like children, the elderly, and people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases.
“The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors,” especially during the afternoon and early evening hours, the National Weather Service says.
Live weather radar
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Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.