Photo: DON EMMERT / AFP / Getty Images
As the week draws to a close, Northern New Jersey is preparing to bid farewell to the lingering taste of summer. The region, along with New York, has been basking in unseasonably warm temperatures, with temperatures in Sussex County topping 80 degrees on both Tuesday and Wednesday - and reaching the mid 70s on Thursday. However, the summer-like weather is set to make a swift exit, with temperatures expected to start cooling off as early as tonight.
The sunny skies that have graced the region today will soon be replaced by rain clouds. Weather forecasts predict that rain and a chance of thunderstorms will start moving into the area tomorrow, potentially extending into Saturday before clear skies return on Sunday.
Saturday also marks a significant shift in the weather pattern, signaling the return of sweater weather. Early morning temperatures are expected to take a plunge, dipping into the chilly 30s and 40s, potentially resulting in the first frost of the season.
The change in weather coincides with countless outdoor events around Sussex County scheduled for the weekend.