Plenty of Warmth and Sunshine for NJ Monday

After a much-needed week off, I'm happy to return after a practically perfect spring weekend, with more nice weather on the way for the Garden State.

Hello, New Jersey! I'm happy to say my vacation to Florida was relaxing, refreshing, and fun! As much as those post-vacation blues hurt, I am also happy to be back to serve up your New Jersey weather forecast!

And what amazing spring weather we had this weekend, huh? Highs reached the 70s for most of New Jersey on Sunday, with beautifully blue skies. Thanks to the effects of a fairly strong sea breeze, temperatures were up to 20 degrees cooler along the Jersey Shore.

Our lovely weather continues for Monday too. However, the superb sunshine will be interrupted by some pesky clouds, entering North Jersey by mid-morning and spreading southward through the early afternoon. The clouds will not really interfere with our warm, above-normal temperatures. Inland New Jersey should reach the upper 70s Monday, with 80 degrees a good possibility in South Jersey. Along the coast, the sea breeze will kick in once again, limiting highs to the upper 60s or so.

The blocking mechanism maintaining this quiet weather will start to break down Monday night, as a weak cold front maneuvers through New Jersey. Despite abundant cloud cover, our weather should remain dry during this frontal passage. (I can't completely rule out a stray shower or sprinkle in far North Jersey.) Low temperatures will fall to the upper 40s to lower 50s.

We'll feel the ultimate effects of this front starting on Tuesday, with a brisk northwesterly wind kicking up to about 20 or 25 mph. Thermometers will end up a bit cooler as a result, but still in the lower 70s - that's still 10+ degrees above normal for mid-April. Clouds will probably win the sky on Tuesday, with partly to mostly cloudy skies expected throughout the day.

Temperatures fall even more on Wednesday. You'll certainly notice it Wednesday morning, with lows likely in the 30s for a good part of the Garden State. Wednesday afternoon's high temperatures will be limited to the lower to mid 60s. Although that's much cooler than Monday, it's close to normal for this time of year. Therefore, I think it's still safe to call Wednesday a nice spring day, especially given the sunny skies in the forecast.

Our pattern change continues on Thursday as clouds increase again. Ahead of a cold front, some rain is expected from Thursday night to Friday morning - however, models don't show anything too heavy or severe at this time.

High temperatures on Friday might make a run for 70+ degrees one more time, but falling temperatures are expected by Friday afternoon. That will lead to a cooler weekend forecast, with highs ranging from the upper 50s to mid 60s for Saturday and Sunday.