New Jersey
Severe Weather Headed To NJ: See Timeline
NEW JERSEY — Multiple rounds of severe storms are set to slam New Jersey Thursday, complete with damaging winds, heavy rain and hail, forecasters said.
The first round will be an “organized cluster” impacting regions along and northwest of I-95 through about noon as daytime high temperatures reach near 80 degrees, the National Weather Service said. The second round (composed of scattered storms) will hit the state this afternoon and evening, this time impacting areas mostly along and southeast of I-95.
Gusty winds up to 65 mph and hail will be possible during severe storms, the weather service said. The entire state is under a “marginal” risk for severe storms, according to graphics provided by the weather service.
Find out what’s happening in Across New Jerseywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Isolated tornadoes and flooding aren’t off the table for the hardest-hit regions, AccuWeather added, noting evening commuters should prepare for delays and disruptions.
As of 9:15 a.m., 11 New Jersey counties are under a severe thunderstorm warning through 9:45 a.m.
Find out what’s happening in Across New Jerseywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The effected counties are:
- Hunterdon
- Morris
- Sussex
- Warren
- Somerset
- Middlesex
- Passaic
- Union
- Bergen
- Essex
- Hudson
“60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail,” the National Weather Service said of the warning. “Damage to roofs, siding, trees, and power lines is possible.”
Additional showers and perhaps thunder will be possible — especially in South Jersey — late Friday into Saturday, the National Weather Service added.
Here’s the latest forecast, according to the National Weather Service:
North Jersey
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 5 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. West wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 80. West wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers between 2 and 5 p.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. Patchy fog after 5 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Central Jersey
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday: A slight chance of showers before 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 84. North wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Patchy fog after 4 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
South Jersey
Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday: A chance of showers, mainly before 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 83. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Friday Night: Patchy fog after 2 a.m. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: A chance of showers, mainly after 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Light east wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New
precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a slight chance of showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. Patchy fog after 2 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
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New Jersey
Nearby shooting interrupts 13-year-old’s birthday party in Paterson; 1 killed, 3 injured
PATERSON, New Jersey (WABC) — One person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting in Paterson.
The violence erupted around 6:30 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of East 29th Street and 10th Avenue.
Children nearby gasped in horror at the sound of rapid gunfire. They were just about to sing Happy Birthday to their 13-year-old friend at her backyard party, but instead of blowing out the candles, they ducked for cover when they heard gunshots in the distance.
“Just hearing it – it was scary to witness, to hear. Especially on my birthday. Like a time I’m trying to play with my friends, get together,” said the 13-year-old.
She also says she had a friend who was there who saw what happened.
“He was going to the bodega – he went running back, but he had saw two people come out of a car and then shoot, but it was like an automatic gun,” she added.
Bystanders watched in shock and panic as first responders treated the victims. One of them was lying in the street next to a car and another was on the ground next to a bicycle.
Local councilman Luis Velez says the City of Paterson has taken measures to reduce crime in this part of town – what he calls a ‘hotspot’ — in part by installing security cameras. He is encouraging the community to cooperate.
“Paterson Police is doing their job as I know, they’re doing a great job to reduce crime, but one again we, the police, nobody, not even the news media has a crystal ball to say this is going to happen now,” Velez said, “Some people see corners getting built up, they see activities and they’re afraid to come out and say something, but our police department is trained to keep it confidential and approach to bring the quality of life in this area.”
The 13-year-old hopes her next birthday party is not ruined by the sound of gunshots.
“First we thought it was fireworks, but then we heard sirens and everyone started going home because they were scared,” she added.
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
New Jersey
New Jersey Restaurants Shine on 2026 “Best in America” List!
Let’s be honest, we didn’t need a national list to tell us this. New Jersey has the best restaurants, the best food, and some of the most talented chefs anywhere in America.
It’s something locals have been saying forever, and now the rest of the country is catching up. Still, it’s always nice to see that recognition on a big stage.
We Already Knew New Jersey Was the Best
USA TODAY’s 2026 Restaurants of the Year list highlights standout dining destinations across the country.
From humble roadside gems to chef-driven hotspots earning major buzz, the list celebrates places that truly stand out, and New Jersey showed up in a big way.
Three New Jersey Spots Earn National Recognition
This year, three Garden State restaurants made the prestigious list:
- The Pasta Shop – Denville
- Ram & Rooster – Metuchen
- Anjelica’s – Sea Bright
And yes, that includes a Jersey Shore favorite, because of course it does.
These restaurants represent everything people love about dining in New Jersey, quality, creativity, and flavors that keep you coming back.
A Jersey Shore Standout Shines
There’s something special about seeing a Jersey Shore restaurant included among the best in America. It’s not just about great food, it’s about the full experience, the atmosphere, and that unmistakable local charm.
Anjelica’s in Sea Bright earning a spot only reinforces what shore locals already know: some of the best meals you’ll ever have are right here, close to home.
No Surprise, Just Well-Deserved
At the end of the day, this recognition feels less like a surprise and more like confirmation. New Jersey’s food scene has always been top-tier, and lists like this just make it official.
Keep Reading: Beloved New Jersey Restaurant is Closing
So whether you’re heading to Denville, Metuchen, or down the shore, you already know, you’re in for something special.
PHOTOS: Step Inside a 1970s Kitchen — 34 Things You’ll Recognize
From Tupperware jugs (you know the ones) to those ever-present knife sharpeners, let’s take a nostalgic trip back to the quintessential ’70s kitchen.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
If You Grew Up in the ’70s and ’80s, These Foods Were Super Fancy
From Babybels to Toblerone chocolate, take a nostalgic bite out of these ‘fancy’ childhood foods that made us feel way more elegant than we really were.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
New Jersey
$150 train tickets and closed stations; FIFA and New Jersey’s World Cup feud
FIFA and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill have become embroiled in a war of words this past week as the prospect of $150 train tickets to travel to World Cup games and plans to close parts of New York’s Penn Station have angered residents.
The recent uproar began after reports surfaced April 6 that parts of Penn Station would be closed to NJ Transit commuters not attending World Cup games for four hours before kickoff during the eight matches at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
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Moreover, round-trip train tickets between Penn Station in Manhattan and MetLife Stadium, where the final of the FIFA World Cup is set to be played, were announced by NJ Transit to come in at $150 per person.
A return ride on the same line typically costs $12.90, according to NJ Transit.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed during the Los Angeles stop of The FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at LA Live in Los Angeles on March 24, 2026.
In a press release on April 17, Sherrill said the move to increase prices was caused by FIFA’s decision to eliminate parking at MetLife Stadium. The Democratic governor said price increases happened because FIFA did not agree to cover the costs of transporting fans.
“We are committed to ensuring costs are shared fairly. As I have said repeatedly, FIFA should cover the cost of transporting its fans. If it won’t, we will not be subsidizing World Cup ticket holders on the backs of New Jerseyans who rely on NJ TRANSIT every day,” Sherrill said.
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More: Going to World Cup at MetLife Stadium? Expect $150 train tickets and no parking
FIFA, on the other hand, has said the price increase would have a “chilling effect” on fans attending games in New Jersey and said Sherrill’s demands asking FIFA to absorb transportation costs for fans were “unprecedented.”
“Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options. This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup,” Heimo Schirgi, COO for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, said in a statement to USA TODAY.
The NJ Transit logo is seen in the lobby of the New Jersey Transit headquarters ahead of a press briefing on the New York/New Jersey FIFA World Cup 2026 regional mobility plan in Newark, New Jersey on April 17, 2026.
What are other cities doing with World Cup transportation?
New Jersey has not been the only place where transportation costs have been the subject of discussion ahead of the World Cup. In Boston, round-trip train train tickets on the MBTA from Boston’s South Station to Gillette Stadium are being sold for $80.
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Special event trains to Foxborough for New England Patriots NFL games and New England Revolution MLS matches are usually $20 for a round trip, according to local news station CBS Boston.
Other cities have not seen increases like the ones in New Jersey and Boston. In Atlanta, for example, train fares on the city’s MARTA will be $2.50 per ride, with children able to travel for free with a paying adult.
Kansas City is offering $15 round-trip shuttle rides for fans parking in four different park-and-ride locations, as well as those coming from FIFA’s Fan Festival in the city. Los Angeles, on the other hand, is offering fans a $3.50 round trip train ticket on its Metro Train.
SEPTA in Philadelphia is also keeping its prices low, with fans set to pay the base $2.90 fare for a ride on its Broad Street Line, which takes riders to Lincoln Financial Field, set to host six matches.
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Katie Sobko from USA TODAY Network’s NorthJersey.com contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup fans going to MetLife Stadium to pay $150 for NJT ticket
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