New Jersey: Rain, Wind, and a Chilly Thanksgiving Ahead

New Jersey is in for a weather rollercoaster. The state will enjoy dry and sunny conditions until Monday evening. But then, a storm system is set to bring rain starting Tuesday afternoon, with the heaviest downpours expected Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. The rain will kick off in western New Jersey around midday Tuesday, spreading eastward by late afternoon. Southerly winds will pick up, blowing at 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. Expect around a quarter to three-quarters of an inch of rain, with some areas possibly seeing up to an inch. The rain should ease off by Wednesday evening as a cold front sweeps through. Tuesday will start off dry, with clouds rolling in and temperatures in the low to mid-50s in the north and west, and upper 50s to low 60s in the south. Overnight lows will be mild, ranging from the mid-40s to mid-50s. Wednesday, a big travel day for Thanksgiving, will see temperatures climb into the 60s before a sharp drop late Wednesday night into the 30s and lower 40s after the cold front passes. Thanksgiving Day will bring a big change. Cold air will move in behind the departing storm system. Expect dry but cold and windy conditions, with highs only reaching the mid-30s to mid-40s. West winds will gust between 30 and 35 mph, making it feel even colder with wind chill values in the 20s and potentially the teens in higher elevations. Friday will be the windiest day, with west-northwest wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph expected. Highs will again be in the mid-30s to mid-40s, with wind chills remaining in the teens. The gusty winds will continue Friday night as a high-pressure system builds in and moves overhead into Saturday. The weekend will start cold on Saturday with highs in the mid-30s to low 40s under mostly sunny skies. Winds will gradually decrease as high pressure settles over the area. By Sunday, temperatures will start to warm up, climbing back into the mid-40s to mid-50s. Another weather system may bring increasing chances for precipitation Sunday into early next week, though the timing is still uncertain.