Much-needed Rain Dampens Holiday Weekend
The storm system responsible for Wednesday’s severe weather across the Garden State has returned to bring several rounds of much-needed rain this Memorial Day Holiday Weekend.
Up to Three Inches of Rain Expected by Monday
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – This past week of weather has been quite eventful. Beginning with the year’s first heatwave, the Garden State compiled record temperatures at many locations before a severe weather outbreak brought it to a halt on Wednesday evening. Now, the same storm system that unleashed the severe weather midweek has returned to bring much-needed rain to dampen the holiday weekend.
Entering this week, conditions have been quite dry across the Garden State. For the second straight year, the month of April was drier than normal. Although slightly wetter than a year ago, April 2026 yielded only 2.49 inches. Through Wednesday, Greg’s Weather Center in South Plainfield had received 9.28 inches of rain for the year.
Skies were gray and gloomy with some drizzle on Saturday morning. However, waves of low pressure will ride along the frontal boundary that has moved back north. As a result, up to three inches of rain could occur by Monday in Central Jersey. Before Wednesday’s severe weather, there was only a little more than half an inch of rain this month at GWC.
Since Wednesday, the rainfall total for the month at GWC has almost tripled. With the added rainfall expected, May 2026’s tally could approach five inches. A Gale Warning is currently in effect across coastal counties in New Jersey. Winds along the Jersey Shore are forecast to gust between 30 and 40 mph. High surf and rip currents are an additional concern at the coast.
The heaviest rainfall will occur from Saturday night through Sunday. Rain could linger into Monday with a chance of thunderstorms during the afternoon. The NWS office in Mount Holly projects anywhere between an inch and two inches of rainfall by the time it is over. Some models predicted over three inches of rain around Central Jersey.
Despite the significant rainfall, river flooding is not anticipated across the Mid-Atlantic. River levels will rise, but remain below flood stage. Regardless, the rainfall will bring some much-needed relief to the region. Although the rain dampened the holiday weekend, it quelled fears of a drought emergency in New Jersey.