Warmer Than Normal Spring in Garden State

Warmer Than Normal Spring in Garden State

Warmer Than Normal Spring in Garden State - Twilight at Belmar
Warmer Than Normal Spring in Garden State - Threatening Skies

With ten days of at least 80° and three days of 90° weather, New Jersey is having a warmer than normal spring in 2026

The Heat Miser Is Off and Running for 2026 in New Jersey 

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – Less than a week away from Memorial Day Weekend 2026, and there have already been several waves of summertime weather this year.  It has been a warmer-than-normal spring in the Garden State.  On Sunday afternoon, the high temperature at Greg’s Weather Center reached 90 degrees for the third time this year.

The Heat Miser is off and running early for 2026 in New Jersey.  This is the fastest that GWC has reached its third 90-degree day in at least four years.  Three years ago, the thermometer didn’t reach a high of 90 for the third time until the July 4th Weekend.  It didn’t occur in the past two years until around the first day of summer.

Watch footage of the twilight at Belmar Marina on Saturday, May 9th.

Comparing 90-Degree Days at GWC from 2023 to 2026

90-Degree Day by Year2023202420252026
1stApril 14thJune 18thJune 19thApril 15th
2ndJune 2ndJune 19thJune 23rdApril 16th
3rdJuly 3rdJune 20thJune 24thMay 17th
Table 1: Comparing the first three 90° days from 2023 to 2026

Digging a little deeper into the temperature data at GWC over the past four years, the tenth 80-degree day didn’t happen until June 10th in 2023.  It was a little earlier two years ago, when it occurred on May 26th, and last year, the tenth 80-degree day fell within the first few days of June.

The unusually warm spring of 2026 in New Jersey started quite early.  On March 10th, Greg’s Weather Center recorded a high of 81 after a morning low of 38.  The diurnal temperature range, which is the difference between the high and the low for the day, was 43.  A year ago, the first 80-degree day didn’t occur until nearly three weeks later, on March 29th.

Watch footage of springtime around Central Jersey during the week of May 6-13, 2026.

Comparing 80-Degree Days at GWC from 2023 to 2026

80-Degree Day by Year2023202420252026
1stApril 6thApril 15thMarch 29thMarch 10th
2ndApril 14thApril 29thApril 19thMarch 31st
3rdMay 11thMay 2ndApril 22ndApril 1st
4thMay 12thMay 7thApril 24thApril 14th
5thMay 13thMay 8thApril 25thApril 15th
6thMay 24thMay 21stApril 29thApril 16th
7thJune 1stMay 22ndMay 2ndApril 17th
8thJune 2ndMay 24thMay 3rdMay 5th
9thJune 6thMay 25thMay 17thMay 16th
10thJune 10thMay 26thJune 3rdMay 17th
Table 2: Comparing the first ten 80° days from 2023 to 2026

Two years ago, the first 80-degree day fell on Tax Day, April 15th.  In 2023, the initial 80-degree day happened on April 6th.  The past two springs have been quite notable in terms of the unusually warm weather.  By the end of April 2025, there had already been six days of at least 80 degree temperatures at GWC.  This year, there were seven, including two in March.

Both 2025 and 2026 were also similar in terms of precipitation, or lack thereof.  A year ago, Greg’s Weather Center only accumulated 2.47 inches of rainfall and 18 days without at least 0.01 of an inch of rain.  This year was only 0.02 of an inch better with 2.49 inches of rainfall, while there were 19 days without any measurable rain.  

Watch time-lapse footage of the skies over Round Valley Reservoir in Lebanon, NJ, on May 13th.

Did the Drought of 2024 Signal a Pattern Shift?

These two dry Aprils came after the severe drought that developed in the Garden State from the late summer into much of the autumn of 2024.  From August through November 2024, there were a total of 97 days without any measurable precipitation.  The unusually dry stretch accounted for 43.3% of the days without rain that entire year.

The drought may have been an indication of a pattern shift in New Jersey weather, and the last two Aprils may have been examples of that change.  Take a look at the rainfall totals for the same period from January 1st to Mid-May over the past two years, and there are some similarities.  Through the end of April, the total rainfall at GWC for 2026 was 8.74 inches, with 66 days without any measurable precipitation.

Watch footage of the fiery sunset from Seaside Park, New Jersey, on April 23, 2025.

Warmer and Drier Spring in 2026

A year ago, there were only 9.28 inches with 70 days without any measurable rainfall.  Despite the worst winter in 11 years across the Garden State with several significant snowfalls, GWC received 0.54 of an inch less rainfall during the period from January 1st to April 30th this year than the same period a year ago.  It appears that a warmer and drier pattern has developed in Central Jersey over the past two years.

Two months helped ease the drought situation in 2025.  The months of May and July produced record rainfall and tremendous storms.  Those two months alone combined to produce nearly 15 inches of rainfall, or approximately 38 percent of GWC’s total for 2025.  Midway through May 2026, GWC has received only 0.54 of an inch.  

The heat is not only expected to continue but also intensify.  The Garden State may have its first heat wave of the year by the middle of the week.  Conditions are also expected to remain dry until Wednesday and Thursday, when some severe weather may accompany some much-needed rain.

Watch footage of one of the wicked thunderstorms of July 2025, the downburst of July 3rd.