Summerlike today, but a cooldown to start your holiday weekend

If you're looking for a beach day on this unofficial last weekend of summer, you may have to wait until Labor Day itself, because even with temperatures remaining in the 80s through Thursday, rain and then a system of cooler air will dominate the Garden State's weather picture for the next few days.

Thursday's outlook would feel great if not for a persistent threat of showers throughout the day. Some clouds will mix in, with highs ranging from the lower to mid-80s. On Thursday night, skies do clear up, with lows in the mid-50s for much of the state but some 40s possible in northwest New Jersey (it'll be September on Friday, after all).

Speaking of Friday, we get the sunshine that likely won't develop on Thursday, save for some late-day clouds rolling in over South Jersey. High temperatures plummet to at least the lower 70s, but it shouldn't surprise anyone to see readings in the upper 60s.

Temps stay there on Saturday, but rain moves back in. Showers are likely all day Saturday and for the first part of the day on Sunday, and then we do warm up later on Sunday.

And right now, yes, Labor Day Monday looks good ... but we'll see where we stand as the long-range forecast continues to take shape on Friday.

Meteorologist Dan Zarrow is on vacation and returns Monday, Sept. 11. Patrick Lavery produces "New Jersey's First News" and is New Jersey 101.5's morning drive breaking news reporter.

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