The warmup begins … and it’ll be HOW hot by Monday?

After a few days of incrementally higher temperatures and teases of sun, New Jersey looks set for a bright, rain-free, and warm weekend, to say the least.

It all begins Friday, with early sunny skies that will turn partly cloudy, but temperatures by and large breaking into the 80s for the first time in this stretch: mid-70s to lower 80s during the daytime, with the coolest temperatures along the Jersey Shore.

That pattern of slightly lower highs up and down the coast, by the way, is a constant in this forecast, so plan accordingly.

Friday does carry with it a chance for a late-day or early-evening shower or thunderstorm in far North Jersey, along the New York border, but that's the only possibility for rain in our current outlook. For the rest of New Jersey on Friday night, it's fair skies, and lows in the 55 to 60 range.

Saturday looks like a no-doubter for sunshine and even warmer temperatures, settling in the low to mid-80s. And Sunday, again, will be sunny, with highs touching the upper 80s to end the weekend.

Looking ahead to the beginning of next week, haze enters the picture Monday and Tuesday, but inland temperatures could easily exceed 90. So as James Taylor sang (c. 1981), "Summer's here. I'm for that."

Meteorologist Dan Zarrow returns Monday, June 12. Patrick Lavery produces "New Jersey's First News" and is New Jersey 101.5's morning drive breaking news reporter.

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