New Jersey is on the East Coast of the U.S., surrounded by New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean. Roughly 8.8 million people live in New Jersey. Northwestern New Jersey has a humid continental climate, with long, humid summers and more snow than the rest of the state in the winter. Central, southern and northeastern New Jersey have a humid subtropical climate, with hot and humid summers and milder winters than the northeastern part of the state. Precipitation occurs on about 120 days per year; most of the precipitation is rain, though it turns to snow in the winter.
Spring in New Jersey truly emphasizes the phrase, "in like a lion, out like a lamb." March in New Jersey sees average low temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and average high temperatures at 52 degrees F. There are usually at least one or two snowfalls in March, and rain is likely as well; average March precipitation in New Jersey is just over 4 inches, the second-wettest month. Things warm up a bit in April; the average low temperature is 40 degrees F, while the average high temperature is 61 degrees F. Rain is likely throughout the month, and snow is rare; the month averages about 3-1/2 inches of precipitation. May is when the weather begins to warm up consistently. The average low temperatures in May is 50 degrees F, while average high temperature is 71 degrees F.
Summer in New Jersey is usually hot and humid, and the majority of New Jersey thunderstorms occur during the summer. The state experiences around 20 thunderstorms per summer, producing about 11 inches of rain per year throughout the summer. The average June low temperature is 59 degrees F, while the average high temperature is 80 degrees F. July's average low temperature is 65 degrees F, with the average high is 85 degrees F. August temperatures average the same as July; July and August are the hottest months of the year in New Jersey. August sees about 4-1/2 inches of rain, on average.
Fall in New Jersey sees the temperatures start to decrease. Foggy and cold, wet days become more frequent later in the fall. September temperatures range from lows around 50 degrees F to highs of 75 degrees F. The October average low temperature is 44 degrees, while the average high temperature is 66 degrees. In November, the weather becomes more winter-like. Snow is possible though unlikely until later in the month; when it does snow, it usually melts within a day or two. Low temperatures are between 30 and 39 degrees F, and high temperatures are between 50 and 55 degrees. Precipitation averages about 9-1/2 inches throughout September, October and November combined; fall is the driest season in New Jersey.
Winter in New Jersey is cold, and the state sees an average snowfall of 10 to 15 inches in the south part of the state, 15 to 30 inches in the central and northeast areas, and 40 to 50 inches in the northwestern part of the state. December has average low temperature of 27 degrees F, and an average high of 46 degrees. January, the coldest month of the year, has an average low temperature of 23 degrees, with an average high of 41 degrees. Things begin to thaw out in February, but is still cold and snowy, with an average low temperature of 25 degrees F, and an average high temperature of 44 degrees. Some days get significantly colder than the annual average temperatures; 10 to 20 days each winter will be well below freezing, hovering around 10 degrees F.
New Jersey occasionally experiences extreme weather elements. Nor'easters are storms that are unique only to the New England area in the U.S., and New Jersey often gets hit with nor'easter storms during the winter and early spring. The storms produce blizzards and sometimes floods. Droughts that last several weeks are possible during the summer. Hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes occasionally happen in New Jersey, but rarely.
