You might need an umbrella, but you'll definitely need sunscreen. Here's a look at the weather forecast for the 2016 Independence Day weekend across New Jersey. Watch video
For Jerseyans planning to stretch the Fourth of July weekend into a four-day celebration of barbecues, beach outings and fireworks, there's some good news and bad news in the weather forecast.
The weekend may start out on the wet side, with a solid chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon and Friday evening. And there's a risk it could end with some showers Monday night, when dozens of towns across the state will be holding fireworks displays.
The good news: Remember how nice it was last weekend? We're likely going to see a repeat performance this Saturday and Sunday, with a good deal of sunshine, temperatures in the 80s and -- most importantly -- dry conditions because of a high pressure system moving into our region.
"It's kind of a carbon copy in terms of the weather over the (past) weekend," said Lance Franck, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's regional office in Mount Holly.
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Although it's still early to get a solid lock on the forecast for Monday, July 4, as of now it's shaping up to be mostly dry and warm in the morning and afternoon, but there's a risk of showers moving in at night, forecasters said.
Here's how the National Weather Service forecast is shaping up for each region of the Garden State during the four-day holiday weekend:
NORTH JERSEY REGION
Friday: Patchy fog in the morning, then a slight chance of showers, mainly after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy in the afternoon, with highs in the low 80s and a slight breeze. A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon, with rainfall amounts expected to be between a tenth and quarter of an inch, but higher in thunderstorms.
Friday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Northwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of rain is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, but higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday: Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high near 81 and a northwest wind of 8 to 13 mph.
Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-80s.
Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-80s.
Monday night: Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.
CENTRAL JERSEY REGION
Friday: Patchy fog in the morning, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy in the afternoon, with highs near 84 and a slight breeze. A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon, with rainfall amounts expected to be between a tenth and quarter of an inch, but higher in thunderstorms.
Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. and lows around 64. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, but higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high in the mid-80s and a westerly breeze of 7 to 10 mph.
Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Monday night: Mostly cloudy, with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms and a low temperature around 66.
MONMOUTH & OCEAN SHORE REGION
Friday: Patchy fog in the morning, then mostly cloudy skies and a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Slightly breezy, with southerly winds of 7 to 9 mph. Rainfall amounts are expected to be between a tenth and quarter of an inch, but higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.
Friday night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with lows around 65 and southwest winds of 5 to 7 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, but higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82, and a westerly breeze of 9 to 11 mph.
Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high in the low 80s.
Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low in the mid-60s.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high in the low 80s.
Monday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68 and a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.
ATLANTIC CITY AND CAPE MAY
Friday: Patchy fog in the morning, then mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High temperatures in the low 80s, and a southerly wind of about 9 mph. Rainfall amounts are expected to be less than a tenth of an inch, but higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.
Friday night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Partly cloudy and breezy, with a low around 68. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are expected, but more could fall in thunderstorms.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high in the low 80s and a southwest breeze of about 10 mph.
Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Sunday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 82.
Monday night: Mostly cloudy, with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.
SOUTH JERSEY REGION (INLAND)
Friday: Patchy fog in the morning, then mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8 a.m. Rainfall amounts are expected to be less than a tenth of an inch, but higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.
Friday night: Partly cloudy and slightly breezy, with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. and a low around 65. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch expected, but higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 85 and a northwest wind about 9 mph.
Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
Sunday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
Monday night: Mostly cloudy, with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms and low temperatures around 68.
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.