Trick-or-treat plans are safe, folks. The rain hammering New Jersey today clears out by tonight, leaving Friday wide open for kids to hit the streets without a single drop. Halloween lands dry, sunny, and just chilly enough to feel like fall.
Right now, a beefed-up low-pressure system sits off the coast, slinging moisture inland. Morning rain already gummed up the Turnpike and Route 3. Afternoon brings the heavier stuff—steady downpours, rumbles of thunder, maybe a flash of lightning. The Storm Prediction Center bumped the slight risk line north. Translation: a rogue cell could kick up 60 mph straight-line winds or spin a brief tornado. They rate the day a 1 out of 5—low-end, spotty trouble at best. Peak action runs 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., then the system bolts northeast.
Expect one to three inches of rain total. It falls in waves, not a deluge, so rivers stay in their banks. Still, gutters overflow and low intersections pond where the sky opens up. Give the brakes an extra pump on Route 46 or the Black Horse Pike.
Wind is the other player. East gusts climb to 35 inland, 45-50 along the beaches. High tide around 6 p.m. pushes minor flooding into the usual spots—Longport boulevards, Sea Isle back bays, Hoboken’s riverfront lots. Sand gets chewed off the dunes, but no major erosion.
By 9 p.m., showers fizzle. Clouds peel back overnight, dragging in crisp air.
Halloween Friday: Clear and Crisp
Sunrise Friday shows blue from Sussex to Cape May. Temps start in the 40s, top out mid-50s by 3 p.m. Winds flip west and stay punchy—gusts near 30 mph rattle skeletons on porches. Secure the yard décor. Sunset hits around 6 p.m.; temps drop fast, hitting upper 30s by 8 p.m. Hoodies under the superhero cape are a must.
Weekend: Classic Fall
Saturday and Sunday deliver postcard weather. Highs 52-56, lows 34-42. Mornings bite in the northwest hills; afternoons feel perfect for hayrides or tailgates. Leaves peak in Warren County—get the camera.
Next Week Glance
A new storm might brew Monday into Tuesday. Some models shove it offshore, others clip the shore with showers. Too early to call. Lock in the weekend plans.
Drive smart today, stay off flooded roads, and stash the umbrella by dinner. Tomorrow night, the only thing falling is candy into buckets.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.