Near-record warmth for NJ on Friday, but turning cooler this weekend

Temperatures will approach the 80 degree mark on Friday, but it will feel much more like November by the end of the weekend.

Here are your weather headlines for Friday, November 6, 2015...

Near-Record Warmth

80 degrees in November?! Yup, it is a definite possibility today. And record high temperatures will be in jeopardy across New Jersey!

Following a balmy morning with temperatures in the 60s along with patchy fog and drizzle, skies will be partly to mostly cloudy. We should stay dry during the daytime hours. Meanwhile, a brisk southwest wind to about 20 mph will provide fuel for today's big warmup. High temperatures will be mostly in the mid to upper 70s across New Jersey... And I wouldn't be surprised to see a few 80s on the temperature map this afternoon, especially in the southwest corner of the state. As for today's record temperatures...

Newark: Today's Forecast 76... Record High 80 (1948)
Trenton: Today's Forecast 77... Record High 77 (1948)
Atlantic City (Airport): Today's Forecast 77... Record High 77 (1961)

Following a very warm week, today will be the grand finale of this "Indian Summer", as a cold front is expect to push through New Jersey tonight...

Showers for Saturday

A cold front will slowly traverse the Garden State starting around 7 p.m. tonight - the impacts of which will affect New Jersey throughout the weekend. As is typical with cold frontal passages, there will be a chance for rain. However, anything that falls from the sky through tomorrow morning should be very light.

As the front slows down while passing through the southern half of New Jersey, an impulse may ride along the front and provide a chance for some steadier rain through Saturday afternoon. Again, this is not a sure bet, and any period of truly wet weather should be limited to South Jersey.

The cooler air behind the front will be slow to arrive, so Saturday's high temperatures should still reach the mid 60s - still above normal for early November. Temperatures and dew points will drop sharply through the late afternoon and evening hours. And that means the real autumn chill will return for the second half of the weekend...

The Big Cooldown

The high pressure system that builds over New Jersey by Sunday will be a much cooler air mass. Sunday morning temperatures will be in the 40s, and afternoon highs will be limited to the mid 50s or so. A big difference from today's near 80 degree temperatures! As these seasonable November temperatures return, we will be treated to abundant sunshine on Sunday - wear a jacket, and you'll be able to enjoy the day just fine.

As we head back to work and school on Monday morning, temperatures may fall far enough into the 30s to cause a widespread frost or even a freeze. Highs for early next week in New Jersey will hover around the 60 degree mark. Our next significant weather maker will come in the Thursday-Friday time frame.

Dan Zarrow is the Chief Meteorologist for Townsquare Media New Jersey. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter for the latest forecast and realtime weather updates.