By: Richard L. Smith
Residents in Newark and the North Jersey region are waking up to a cool and drizzly Thursday morning following overnight rain that swept through the area.
As of 4:30 a.m., temperatures hovered around 56 degrees in downtown Newark, with damp conditions and patchy fog adding to the early gloom.
According to the National Weather Service, the fog is expected to clear by mid-morning, making way for gradual improvements.
Skies will remain mostly cloudy, but a drier and more comfortable afternoon is on tap, with a high near 73 degrees and light winds from the north at 6 to 9 mph.
Tonight, NWS forecasters say skies will remain mostly cloudy, with a 30 percent chance of showers arriving in the early morning hours. 
The overnight low is forecast to dip to around 61 degrees.
Enjoy the day, New Jersey — clearer skies are ahead.