From Early Summer to early Spring across the Jersey Shore

A cold front dropping southwestward toward the Jersey Shore (often referred to as a backdoor cold front) resulted in a dramatic drop in the mercury, as temperatures plummeted 35 degrees in just under 12 hours. Early summer temperatures during the mid afternoon on the 2nd were replaced with early spring temperatures during the early morning hours of the 3rd, as much cooler ocean air replaced the heat that covered the Jersey Shore.

As a backdoor cold front approached the Jersey Shore from the New York City metro area, winds along the Jersey Shore shifted from south to southwest. The wind shift pushed the ocean cooled air just offshore and allowing the hot temperatures further inland to make their way back to shore. In the Bellcrest section of Toms River, NJ, the temperature peaked at 90 degrees at about 300 pm, which was much warmer than anticipated for the date. Subtle changes in wind direction in the spring and early summer can usher dramatic temperature changes to the Jersey Shore, and this was a prime example.

A closer look at the Jersey Shore showed temperatures near 90 degrees to the west of Barnegat Bay, as the southwest wind kept the warmer temperatures in place. Along the barrier islands, a wind shift to the east and northeast allowed the ocean cooled air to drop temperatures back through the 70s. Temperatures did not change much through about 700 pm, as the wind directions remained constant. However, just before sunset, the backdoor cold front swept westward across the Jersey Shore, forcing temperatures through the 60s during the evening.

Temperatures at our station in Toms River dropped 30 degrees in a matter of about six hours, transforming the season there from early summer to mid spring. For the most part, the front was dry, and there was not even much in the way of cloudiness as the front moved west across the remainder of NJ. By morning, temperatures along the Jersey Shore were in the lower 50s, feeling much more like early spring than early summer.

With the ocean cooled air in place, temperatures along the NJ shore did not budge much on Friday, despite the sunshine. Most places did not rise back out of the mid 50s, some 35 degrees cooler than the previous afternoon. Long time residents of the Jersey Shore know all too well that rapid temperature changes are possible with a front causes a quick wind shift, replacing unseasonable heat with much chillier temperatures.

The front that crossed NJ late Thursday night and Friday morning will act as a conduit for moisture, producing rain and cooler temperatures through the weekend into early next week.