Severe Thunderstorms Slam NJ As Warnings Issued

Severe thunderstorms are inbound as an intense heatwave and wildfire smoke stews in the Garden State.

According to the National Weather Service, severe storms are moving into parts of North and Central Jersey from the northwest.

Specifically, a severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Southeastern Morris County and Northeastern Somerset County in northern New Jersey until at least 5:30 p.m.

Areas including Morristown, Parsippany, Somerset, and Mendham can expect significant weather, officials say. Additionally, I-78 in New Jersey between mile markers 42 and 43, I-80 in New Jersey between mile markers 39 and 46, and I-287 in New Jersey between mile markers 30 and 43 will be affected, according to experts.

As a result of the intense storms, Newark International Airport has issued ground stops for the time being, temporarily halting flights.

Forecasters say some parts of the state could see quarter-sized hail and incredibly strong wind gusts reaching 60 mph.

The storms rush in as New Jersey is already dealing with significant weather.

Heat Wave, Wild Fire

On Wednesday, heat is expected to move in on the Garden State with highs in the upper 90s to near 100° and heat indices between 100-109°

An Extreme Heat Warning is currently in effect until 8 p.m. for parts of New Jersey, including Western Monmouth, Middlesex, Somerset, Ocean and Southeastern Burlington Counties.

Smoke from Tuesday's Canadian wildfire is also anticipated to spread into the region Wednesday evening and on Thursday, which may reduce visibility and lead to air quality issues.

Alongside the smoke and extreme heat, there is also a threat of isolated, severe thunderstorms after 4 p.m. near, north and east of Philly.

Damaging winds pose one of the main threats, the weather service said.

If thunderstorms do occur, forecasters expect them to produce damaging wind gusts, hail and brief, heavy rainfall, with frequent cloud to ground lightning possible.

Storms could occur from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Wednesday.

In order to prepare, the weather service recommends monitoring the latest forecasts and making sure you can receive watches and warnings.

Here's the latest NWS forecast throughout New Jersey:

North Jersey

• Wednesday: Patchy smoke between 11 a.m. and noon. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Heat index values as high as 104. West wind 7-13 MPH, with gusts as high as 24 MPH.

• Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m. Areas of smoke. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. Northwest wind 5-9 MPH becoming light after midnight.
• Thursday: Patchy smoke. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Light northwest wind becoming west 8-13 MPH in the morning.
• Thursday Night: Areas of smoke. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Northwest wind 5-9 MPH.
• Friday: Patchy smoke before 8 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. North wind around 6 MPH.
• Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
• Saturday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
• Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
• Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers before 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
• Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.

Central Jersey

• Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Heat index values as high as 105. West wind 10-15 MPH.
• Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a slight chance of showers between 11pm and midnight. Widespread smoke, mainly between 9pm and midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Northwest wind 5-10 MPH becoming light after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Thursday: Widespread smoke, mainly after 5 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. West wind 5-10 MPH, with gusts as high as 25 MPH.
• Thursday Night: Widespread smoke, mainly before 9 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. West wind around 5 MPH becoming calm after midnight.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming north around 5 MPH.
• Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Saturday: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. High near 85. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.
• Saturday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2am, then a chance of showers. Low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.
• Sunday: A chance of showers before 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.

South Jersey

• Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Heat index values as high as 105. West wind around 10 MPH.
• Tonight: Patchy smoke after 3 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. West wind 5-10 MPH.
• Thursday: Patchy smoke before 4 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Northeast wind 5-10 MPH becoming south in the afternoon.
• Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Patchy smoke after 7 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 MPH becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 90. North wind around 5 MPH becoming south in the afternoon.
• Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
• Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
• Sunday: A chance of showers before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.