Weather in New Jersey: Warm temperatures are forecast to be near record-breaking, but no rain is in sight

Meteorologists say New Jersey's extended stretch of rain-free weather is likely to continue throughout the week, with record-breaking temperatures possible on Tuesday.

According to the National Weather Service, Monday will continue to be quite mild with dry, sunny conditions and afternoon temperatures reaching the upper 70s and lower 80s.

We'll cool off tonight with overnight lows falling into the upper 40s and lower 50s. Normal temperatures this time of year are in the upper 40s to mid 60s.

Things will get even warmer on Tuesday as forecasters say temperatures will peak in the low 80s, except along the Jersey Shore where highs will reach the 70s.

Tuesday's highs in Newark and Trenton are expected to be 78 and 83 degrees, respectively, which would be below daily records of 84 and 85, respectively, set in 1947. Tuesday's high temperature of 80 degrees forecast for Atlantic City International Airport would not break the daily record of 83 degrees set in 1979.

“Even if temperatures are just below records, it will certainly feel more like the end of summer than the middle of fall,” AccuWeather.com said.

Overnight lows Tuesday through Wednesday will be about the same as the night before – upper 40s and lower 50s.

Wednesday will be similarly sunny and warm, with slightly lower temperatures.

Forecasters expect there to be a slight cooldown Thursday and Friday, with daytime highs in the 60s. Dry conditions will continue and no signs of rain are expected over the weekend.

About the northern third of the state is considered “unusually dry,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Most of the rest of New Jersey is experiencing moderate drought. Most of Atlantic and about half of Burlington and Ocean counties are experiencing severe drought.

According to AccuWeather.com, New York City received only a trace of rain in October and “not a drop” of rain fell in Philadelphia.

According to the National Weather Service, only a trace of rain has fallen in the Newark area in New Jersey so far this entire month – not even enough to fill a rain gauge by a hundredth of an inch. And less than an inch of rain fell in September.

The Trenton area also received only a trace amount of rain in October, after only 0.43 inches of rain in September. And the Atlantic City area has recorded just 0.02 inches of rain so far this month, after only 0.56 inches of rain in all of September.

Current weather radar