Not even a week after New Jersey baked in record-high temperatures in the 90s, the state is facing a freeze warning tonight—with some areas potentially seeing temperatures in the 20s.
The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for all 21 New Jersey counties, running from midnight to 9 a.m. Tuesday. Temperatures could drop as low as 22 degrees in northwestern New Jersey, with widespread lows in the mid-20s expected across the state.
In Newark, the record low for April 21 is 31 degrees—set back in 1981. That record could be broken this evening.
What to Expect Today and Tonight
Monday will be cold and dreary, with highs only reaching the mid-40s to mid-50s—well below normal for late April. Isolated light showers are possible during the day, mainly southeast of the I-95 corridor.
Those with outdoor plants, gardens, or exposed pipes should take extra notice. After weeks of warm weather, vegetation that has already begun to bloom is especially vulnerable to a hard freeze.
The Good News
This won’t last long. Tuesday will start bitterly cold but temperatures will begin climbing through the day into the mid-to-upper 50s. By Wednesday, much of the state returns to normalcy in the mid-to-upper 60s.
Spring looks to be back on Thursday, with highs pushing into the 70s for most of the state.
For now: Take your jacket out of storage. New Jersey isn’t done with winter just yet.