July-like temperatures to return this week, and rising humidity could make it feel as hot as 100 degrees, forecasters say. Watch video
After a week of comfortable temperatures in the 70s and 80s, New Jersey is going to face another heat wave later this week.
Some parts of the state could even set records as the weekend draws near, according to the National Weather Service.
In central and southern New Jersey -- particularly around the Philadelphia suburbs -- the heat and humidity could combine to make it feel as hot as 100 degrees during the afternoon hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the weather service said.
The hottest region of the state is expected to be Mercer, Gloucester and Camden counties, as well as northwestern Burlington County.
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In eastern Pennsylvania, the heat index could approach 100 degrees in Delaware and Philadelphia counties, along with eastern Chester County, eastern Montgomery County and lower Bucks County.
Will the humidity be as oppressive as it was during the brutal heat waves that hit our region in July and August?
"It looks like it'll be close to that," said Dean Iovino, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's regional forecast office in Mount Holly. "Maybe not as bad, but people will feel it. The heat index values will approach 100, so it will be fairly uncomfortable as we go through that stretch," Thursday through Saturday.
Based on the weather service forecast, the best chance of tying or topping any daily temperature records is on Friday, when the mercury climbs into the low to mid-90s in many parts of the region.
The current record highs for Sept. 9 are 92 degrees in Atlantic City, 93 in Trenton, 94 in Newark, 94 in Philadelphia and 97 in New Brunswick.
The latest wave of uncomfortable weather is the result of a very hot air mass that's moving toward the East Coast from the West and Southwest, Iovino said.
UPDATE: The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Mercer, Gloucester and Camden counties, and northwestern Burlington County, effective from noon to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8, when the heat index could get as high as 102 degrees.
The weather service said parts of Central New Jersey could see heat index readings (how hot it feels when the air temperature is combined with the humidity level) approaching 100 degrees on Thursday afternoon and Saturday afternoon, and parts of far southern New Jersey could see heat index readings as high as 105 degrees on Thursday and Saturday.
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.