NJ weather: Hot enough? Heat index feels like 105 with chance of thunderstorms – Asbury Park Press

MOUNT HOLLY – A fourth consecutive day of hot, muggy and humid weather could also bring a chance of isolated thunderstorms across New Jersey Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service and private meteorologists. 

A heat advisory remains in effect, covering nearly the entire state once again with the heat index feeling likes its 105 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

As the heat wave continues to bake the state, a chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening is also expected to come with light winds, according to Jonathan Carr, who runs Weather NJ.

“Skies should be mixed with sun, clouds and a few showers and thunderstorms around,” said Carr. “Humidity should be noticeably re-elevated after the small drop Tuesday. Winds should be light out of the South and this could make that area cooler than the rest of the state.”

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Wednesday temperatures are looking nearly identical to Tuesday’s forecast as residents inland, excluding parts of North Jersey, can expect highs in the low 90s with a heat index value around 100 to 105 degrees, the National Weather Service’s forecast wrote.  Showers and a possible thunderstorm is expected with rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch.

In parts of Essex and Sussex counties, cooler temperatures are expected Wednesday with the highs in the mid to upper 80s. The heat advisory is not covering these areas of the state, according to the advisory.

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On Thursday, temperatures look to remain the same with the highs in the low 90s and heat index values as high as 100 degrees, with another chance of showers and possible thunderstorms throughout the day, according to the National Weather Service.

“Throughout the rest of this week, the atmosphere is going to be a little bit more unstable and that cap is going to be a little weaker,” said Steven DiMartino who runs NY NJ PA weather. “So any type of little disturbance that drops through, it’s going to fire off a round of showers and possible thunderstorms.”

The thunderstorms are going to leave “extremely heavy rainfall, frequent lightning and wind gusts over 40 mph,” according to DiMartino. A tiny chance of hail is also not out of the discussion in some areas.

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In addition, a “code orange” air quality alert remains in effect from Tuesday that will stretch along South parts of the state and along the Shore, according to an alert from the National Weather Service.

The code orange alert means “air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups,” the NWS in Mount Holly wrote. 

Sensitive groups include children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases and the elderly. People in those groups can minimize the effects of the air pollution by “strenuous activity or exercise outdoors,” according to the alert.

Joshua Chung is the 9-5 breaking news and weather reporter. A lifelong Jersey Shore resident, he is a recent graduate of Michigan State University. Contact him at jchung@gannettnj.com, 732-557-5748 or on Twitter @Joshchunggg