NJ State Climate Office

September is a transition month between summer and fall, and conditions around New Jersey reflected both seasons this year. The first two-thirds of the month were dominated by a similar weather pattern carried over from August. A large area of high pressure over the...(1/7)

The monthly temperature averages somewhat hide the anomalous nature of the warm overnight temperatures around the state this month. The average high of 76.4° was 0.8° below normal and 55th warmest, yet the average low of 60.0° was 3.4° above normal and 4th warmest. (6/7)

For much more, click below! www.njweather.org/articles/sep... Photo: Sunset over Wantage (Sussex County) on September 25th, as a strong nor'easter was approaching the state. High Point Monument is visible in the background. Photo by Shawn Viggiano. (7/7)

The September statewide average precipitation was 6.17”, which was 2.01” above the 1991–2020 mean and ranked 17th wettest. Unlike the prior two months, in September the Southern and Coastal divisions were both wetter than in the north. (4/7)

September 2026's statewide average temperature of 68.2°F was 1.3° above normal and ranked as the 13th warmest of the past 132 Septembers (tied with three others). (5/7)

...eastern third of the United States brought warm conditions that were periodically interrupted by frontal passages and heavy rain events. The pattern shifted in the final third of the month, as a blocking area of high pressure over Canada and a slow-moving nor’easter...(2/7)

...influenced weather across the state. The onshore flow brought significant rounds of tidal flooding and severe beach erosion to the Jersey shore, along with copious amounts of rainfall along the coast. (3/7)

nj.comIs N.J. apple picking dead for good? Here’s what farmers say amid devastating extreme weather.More than 78% of the state's apple crop was eliminated by a three-day cold snap in April resulting in about $66 million in losses, experts said.

This past April's deep freeze decimated crops across New Jersey. See what farmers and Rutgers climate and crop experts have to say about the catastrophic losses and how farmers may need to shift their strategies to protect themselves from more frequent extreme weather events.

youtube.comNJ Spotlight News: September 15, 2026YouTube video by NJ Spotlight News

16 Sept

NJ State Climatologist John Krasting discusses this past weekend's flash flooding in northeast NJ and what we know (and don't know) about how the strengthening El Niño will affect NJ's weather in the coming months.

(1/8) August 2026 was warm and wet across the Garden State. For the first time since March and April 2024, New Jersey recorded back-to-back months of statewide above-average precipitation. The recent wet period comes on the heels of an extended dry stretch of...

(7/8) August 2026's statewide average temperature of 74.9°F was 1.3° above normal and ranked as the 14th warmest of the past 132 Augusts. The average high of 84.6° was 0.8° above normal, ranking as the 25th warmest, while the average low of 65.2° was 1.9° above normal and 12th warmest.

(8/8) For much more, including the summer 2026 recap, click below! www.njweather.org/articles/aug... Photo: Cloud-to-ground lightning as seen from High Point on August 7th, 2026. Photo courtesy of Shawn Viggiano.

(5/8)...100% to 57% over the course of the month. The statewide average precipitation was 7.36”, which was 2.79” above the 1991–2020 mean and ranked 13th wettest. Similar to July, the Northern division led with 7.73” (3.17” above normal and 12th wettest),...

(6/8)...followed by the Coastal division at 7.17” (+2.57”, 18th wettest), and then by the Southern division with 7.12” (+2.55”, 17th wettest).

(3/8) Since the beginning of August, the rains have largely erased the abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions that existed in the northern and central parts of New Jersey. Drought conditions substantially improved in southwestern New Jersey along the Delaware River.

(4/8) Some improvement also occurred in the coastal counties, which often lag as soil conditions make it more difficult to retain soil moisture. Overall, the percent area of the state marked as either “abnormally dry” or “in drought” through the U.S. Drought Monitor dropped from...

(2/8)...23 out 26 below-average precipitation months dating back to May 2024 that led to deteriorating drought conditions throughout the state.

(1/9) Mother Nature had plenty of tricks up her sleeve this month and brought about a dynamic mix of weather across New Jersey in July. There was no shortage of things to talk about, including an oppressive and dangerous heat wave, rounds of severe weather, multiple...

(8/9) The average high of 86.0° was 0.3° above normal, ranking as the 33rd warmest, while the average low of 65.6° was 0.5° above normal and 24th warmest. The Northern climate division averaged 73.6° (-0.1°, 34th warmest), the Southern division 77.2° (+0.7°, 22nd warmest),...

(9/9) and the Coastal division 76.9° (+0.7°, 19th warmest). For much more, click below! www.njweather.org/articles/jul... Photo: A vehicle trapped in flood waters in Glen Rock on July 27. Photo by Boyd Loving.

(6/9) July marked the first above-average precipitation month since July 2025. Statewide, NJ saw 6.43” of precipitation (1.72” above average, 18th wettest). The Northern division led the way with 7.10” (2.38” above average, 20th wettest),...

(7/9)...followed by the Southern division at 6.10” (1.36” above average, 23rd wettest), and the Coastal division at 5.23” (0.85” above average, 37th wettest). July statewide average temperature of 75.8° was 0.4° above normal and ranked as the 28th warmest of the past 132 Julys.

(4/9) These tragedies remind us all of the importance of heeding severe weather warnings. In July, the National Weather Service issued a total of 174 severe thunderstorm, flash flood, and tornado warnings for the state – more than double the average number issued in July over the last 10 years.

(5/9) Of particular note is the nearly 3X increase in the number of flash flood warnings issued statewide. Low-level wind shear associated with frequent warm-frontal passages also led to an elevated tornado threat and 12 tornado warning issuances this month.

(2/9)...flash flooding events, and a notable stretch of poor air quality stemming from wildfires burning in Canada. Sadly, the preliminary count indicates that 33 New Jerseyans lost their lives as a result of the weather. The New Jersey Department of Health reported 29 heat-related fatalities...

(3/9)...early in the month. A man was killed when a large tree fell on his vehicle in Scotch Plains during the storms on July 3. A construction worker was struck and killed by lightning in Monroe Township, and two children died while playing near the Passaic River on July 29.

(1/7) The title of this month’s report is appropriate for two very different reasons. First, it applies to Jersey-wide precipitation this month and over the first half of 2026 being well below normal. This condition has persisted over 23 of the past 26 months when compared to 1991–2020 normals.

(6/7) Precipitation across New Jersey average 2.48” this June. This is 1.82” below normal and ranks as the 21st driest on record. The northern division averaged 3.04” (-1.57”, 37th driest), the southern division 2.18” (-1.96”, 21st driest), and the coast 1.63”

(7/7) For more, click below! www.njweather.org/articles/jun... Photo: A family of Canada geese swimming in the Delaware-Raritan Canal in Somerset on the morning of June 6th. Photo by Dave Robinson.

(4/7) He will inherit a long-serving and dedicated staff. Expect great things from John and the staff within the state climate office!

(5/7) Back to a look at June 2026. The statewide average temperature of 71.9° is 1.6° above the 1991–2020 normal. This ties for the 9th warmest dating back to 1895. Nine of the 15 warmest Junes of the past 132 have occurred since 2005, with five of them within the past seven years.

(2/7) The second reason for the title pertains to my 35-year run as New Jersey State Climatologist ending on June 30th as I retire from my academic career as a Rutgers professor and State Climatologist.

(3/7) I step down, proud of what our state climate office team has achieved and looking forward to future progress as Dr. John Krasting, a former Rutgers undergraduate and graduate student and, more recently, a respected scientist at NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Lab, grabs the baton.

onnj.comExplaining the Heatwave - On New JerseyWe've certainly seen it all lately across New Jersey: record-breaking heat, persistent drought conditions, and now rounds of heavy rain that have triggered

NJ State Climatologist John Krasting discusses recent weather happenings in The Garden State and what's expected with a developing El Niño pattern heading into the fall and winter.

2 July

Blazing hot conditions prevail across The Garden State today. Two NJWxNet stations have already reached 100 before noon, with those being New Brunswick and Jersey City.

2 July

The last time New Brunswick reached 100 before noon was July 6, 2010, when the station topped out at 105. In its 18 year history, this is the first time Jersey City it has reached 100 by noon!

rutgers.eduWhat 35 Years of Watching New Jersey’s Climate Reveals

27 June

rutgers.eduRutgers-Trained Scientist and NOAA Researcher Is Named State Climatologist

26 June

(1/5) Spring is often recognized as a period when winter attempts to hold on while summer comes knocking on the door. This past March and April displayed this “battle"...to the extreme. May also followed suit. The focus was mainly on thermal swings, resulting in...

(4/5) May temperatures vacillated weekly, ultimately coming in at an average of 61.7° (0.5° above normal, 39th mildest May since 1895). The average maximum temperature of 72.4°(0.1° above normal, 54th mildest). The average minimum of 51.0° (0.8° above normal, 25th mildest).

(5/5) For more, click below! www.njweather.org/content/ward... Photo: Awaiting summer visitors: ocean front at the NJ National Guard Training Facility in Sea Girt midday on May 20th with the temperature in the low 90°s prior to the arrival of a cooling sea breeze. Photo by Dave Robinson.

(2/5)...many a decision on whether to go with cold or warm weather clothing. Meanwhile, the ongoing poor “production” of precipitation was disappointingly more persistent, except, unfortunately, over the Memorial Day weekend.

(3/5) Statewide, May precipitation averaged 2.88”. This is 0.87” below the 1991–2020 norm and ranks as the 42nd driest May of the past 132 years. This was the 10th consecutive month with below-normal precipitation across NJ and the 22nd of the past 25 months.

(1/6) April 2026 was a month ranking in the top ten for warmth, yet the major weather news of the month was a damaging late-month freeze. Weeks vacillated between warmth and cold, with the warm ones winning out. This thermal whiplash was accompanied by yet another below-normal month of...

(5/6) For more, including a 2025–2026 snow season recap, click below! www.njweather.org/content/ther...

(6/6) Photo: Ice-encased peach tree branches at 6:30 AM on April 8th. Water was sprayed on the trees at the Stephen Specca Farms in Springfield Twp. (Burlington County) to provide insulative ice cover, protecting the buds from temperatures that fell into the upper 20°s. Photo courtesy of D. Specca.

(3/6)...6th mildest since records commenced in 1895. Seven of the ten mildest Aprils have occurred since 2002, with 2006 (12th) and 2025 (13th) not far behind. April precipitation averaged 2.51” across NJ. This is 1.19” below normal and ranks as the 23rd driest.

(4/6) Northwest areas were closest to normal, with west central and far southern reaches driest. Only trace amounts of snow and sleet were observed in several locations during the month.

(2/6)...precipitation, making this 21 of the past 24 months with below-normal totals across the Garden State. A Drought Warning issued by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection remains in place. The 54.4° average April temperature is 2.9° above the 1991–2020 normal. This ties as the...