By: Richard L. Smith
As we prepare to say goodbye to summer, Newark and the North Jersey region are waking up to a warm and muggy start this Friday, with one more taste of summer sunshine before fall weather returns for the weekend.
At 4:30 a.m., temperatures are already hovering around 72 degrees in downtown Newark, and conditions are expected to feel more like mid-July than mid-September.
According to the National Weather Service, today is shaping up to be a perfect day for one last trip to the Jersey Shore, with sunny skies and warm temperatures making it what ABC Eyewitness News Meteorologist Dani Beckstrom called a “bonus beach day” across the Garden State.
Weather Outlook
• Friday Forecast: Sunny, with a high near 84 degrees. Expect a northwest wind between 5 to 8 mph.
• Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58 degrees.
Drivers and early commuters in Sussex and Morris Counties should be cautious as dense fog was reported in some areas, though it is expected to burn off by late morning. 
As we head into the weekend, expect a noticeable shift in temperatures with cooler, fall-like air settling into the region. But for today, it’s all sunshine and warmth.
Have a great Friday, New Jersey!