Another day of dangerous heat and scattered late-day thunderstorms are expected across the Garden State on Friday.
New Jersey's weather outlook for Friday is shaping up to be a carbon copy of Thursday's weather, with oppressive heat and humidity sticking around, and the threat of showers and thunderstorms developing late in the day.
"It's going to be very similar" to Thursday, said Lance Franck, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's regional office in Mount Holly.
Temperatures will push into the 90s across much of the Garden State, as the first heat wave of the summer hits the East Coast. Once again, the high humidity will make it feel like it's about 100 degrees or even hotter in parts of New Jersey.
For the third straight day, an excessive heat warning is in effect through 6 p.m. Friday for the suburban Philadelphia region of New Jersey -- Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties, as well as northwestern Burlington County. It will feel dangerously hot in those areas, with high humidity and daytime temperatures in the mid-90s, the weather service said.
Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop in North Jersey sometime after 4 p.m. Highs during the day in the northern parts of the state will be in the low 90s.
The good news is that after two days of air quality alerts across the state, none have been issued for New Jersey on Friday.
There won't be much relief from the heat overnight, with muggy, warm conditions in the forecast and temperatures stuck in the mid-70s.
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Showers and thunderstorms are likely between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. throughout the state. Some storms could produce strong winds and heavy rain.
North and Central Jersey residents will get a break from the 90-degree weather on Saturday.The pesky heat wave is expected to linger into the weekend in South Jersey, with temperatures hitting the low to mid-90s, Franck said.
Temperatures may not even break into the 80s in some areas, but it will be humid and more storms are likely.
But after that, things are looking up.
"It looks like we'll have some improvement after Saturday night, and temperatures will return close to normal for a while," Franck said.
Sunday's mercury is expected to top out in the mid-80s, and the air will be noticeably dry, making it feel much more comfortable to be outside.
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Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig. Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.