N.J. weather: Scorching temps could top 100 with severe storms, hail

UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch issued for entire state as strong storms threaten region

ALSO: These were N.J.’s hottest temperatures ever recorded

Strong thunderstorms are a threat this afternoon and evening in New Jersey on another sweltering day in which it will feel hotter than 100 degrees in much of the state.

Storms and gusty winds that could lead to power outages could occur between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. Nearly all of New Jersey is at a slight risk for severe weather, which is the second lowest of five levels on a threat scale used by the Storm Prediction Center.

Forecasters said frequent lightning and large hail are also possible during heavy downpours, which are most likely to occur starting in the late afternoon, when the atmosphere will be fired up by intense heat and high humidity.

Storms should move out by midnight as the mercury falls into the 70s.

Air temperatures are expected to climb as high as 101 degrees in Trenton, 100 in Camden and 99 in Newark this afternoon. Widespread highs in the mid- to upper 90 are in the forecast nearly statewide, though the humidity will make it feel even hotter. It will be cooler along the Jersey Shore, where highs will top out in the 80s.

The forecast for Wednesday is nearly identical — very hot and humid with a slight threat of severe thunderstorms breaking out during the afternoon and evening.

Relief from our third heat wave of the summer should arrive on Thursday, when temperatures top out in the 80s and the humidity eases. Friday will be much like Thursday — sunny and summer-like but without stifling heat.

Latest N.J. heat alerts

Here are the current heat advisories and excessive heat warnings across the Garden State:

• Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, western Monmouth, Ocean and Somerset counties: An excessive heat warning runs until 8 p.m. Wednesday with the heat index climbing as high as 109 degrees.
• Hunterdon, Morris and Warren: The excessive heat warning continues until 8 p.m. Wednesday. The maximum heat index is expected to soar to as high as 106 degrees.
• Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union: A heat advisory in effect will lapse at 10 p.m. Wednesday. The heat index is forecast to climb as high as 104 degrees.
• Eastern Monmouth and Sussex: A heat advisory that will include a maximum heat index of 103 degrees is in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday.
• Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland: The heat advisory will continue until 8 p.m. Wednesday. The heat index could climb as high as 107 degrees.

Parts of New Jersey will officially enter another heat wave on Tuesday, while areas experience their third straight day of temperatures reaching at least 90 degrees.

Meanwhile, air temperatures soared into the mid- to upper 90s Monday afternoon in many sections of central and southern New Jersey, and into the low to mid-90s in many parts of northern New Jersey. The high humidity made it feel as hot as 105 to 107 degrees in some parts of the state.

Among the hottest temperatures reported Monday were 100 degrees in Hamilton in Mercer County, 99 degrees in the Cream Ridge section of Upper Freehold Township in Monmouth County, and 98 degrees in Fort Dix and Toms River in Ocean County, as well as in Wrightstown in Burlington County, and Cherry Hill and Pennsauken in Camden County and Newark in Essex County.

Some of the highest heat index readings — how hot it feels to humans when the air temperature is combined with humidity — were 107 degrees in Toms River and 106 degrees in Berkeley Township, Hillsborough, Lyndhurst, Mannington, Somerville and Wall, according to data from the Rutgers NJ Weather Network and National Weather Service.

Newark’s high temperature of 98 degrees was well shy of its July 15 record of 104 degrees, set in 1995, the National Weather Service said.

In Trenton, the high Monday was 96. The daily record of 101 was established in 1995. Atlantic City’s high temperature was 96 — the record of 100 also came in 1995.

Current weather radar

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NJ Advance Media staff writer Len Melisurgo contributed to this report.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.