Rain Arrives in New Jersey, Bringing Relief from Drought

New Jersey will see a spread of rain starting in the west by late Wednesday afternoon and moving east toward the coast early Thursday. The showers could drop between a quarter inch and three‑quarters of an inch, giving much-needed moisture to the state. Around the same time, isolated thunderstorms may form south and west of I‑95 as a cold front moves through. The National Weather Service warns that these storms could bring brief bursts of rain and wind gusts up to 25 mph. After the front passes, Wednesday night will clear, leaving a breezy but drier Thursday. Friday is expected to stay mostly dry with winds up to 20 mph from the northwest.A new storm approaching from the south on Saturday could bring additional rain, but models disagree on how close it will get. Some predict a wider rain band; others see the system staying weaker and farther south. Weekend temperatures will dip below average, with Saturday’s lows in the mid‑50s and Sunday–Monday highs reaching the upper 50s to mid‑60s. Shoreline residents should note that high tides on Wednesday and Thursday evenings could cause minor flooding in vulnerable areas, especially as the full moon rises on May 1.