Memorial Day weekend is off to a perfect start – warmth inland, a cool sea breeze on the beach and sunny skies all around – but holiday Monday could bring severe thunderstorms.
Monmouth and Ocean counties can expect temperatures in the 80s inland and 70s on the coast Saturday and Sunday, with rain chances increasing Sunday night into Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
The warm weather is “above normal, but not excessively so,” said Sarah Johnson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly. “It feels like it’s a lot warmer because we had a really long period where it was a little below normal earlier this month.”
The weather is getting more attention this weekend than usual. It’s the start of the Shore’s summer tourism season, an annual 14-week rush that last year generated $8.6 billion for Monmouth and Ocean counties.
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Consumers this spring appear to be more discouraged, but observers say that’s not stopping them from spending money.
AAA predicts that about 945,000 New Jersey residents will drive at least 50 miles to their destination, up 4% from last year and the highest number since 2005. Meanwhile, Jeffrey Childers, a broker with Childers Sotheby’s International Realty in Brick, said that your office saw a last minute situation. increase in summer rental bookings.
You may want to make beach visits and barbecues on Saturdays and Sundays.
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The forecast:
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with highs near 70 on the beach and mid-80s inland.
Sunday: Partly sunny with highs near 70 on the beach and 80 inland. There is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms Sunday night before 8 p.m.
Monday: There is a possibility of showers and thunderstorms throughout the day. Rain is likely after 5pm and some of the storms may produce heavy rainfall.
“There is some risk of heavy rain causing flash flooding, but the greatest risk will be to the north and west of you,” Johnson said.
Michael L. Diamond is a business reporter who has written about New Jersey’s economy and healthcare industry for more than 20 years. He can be reached at mdiamond@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared in the Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore Memorial Day Weekend Weather: Sunny Start, Rain Coming
