By: Richard L. Smith
Newark and the North Jersey region are waking up to a warm and pleasant start as the first half of the weekend kicks off. 
Good Saturday morning! As of 5:30 a.m., downtown Newark is seeing a comfortable 65 degrees under mostly cloudy but dry skies, making it a perfect morning to get outdoors without a jacket.
According to the National Weather Service, sunny skies will stick around through much of the morning and early afternoon.
However, residents should be prepared for a change later in the day, with showers and the possibility of thunderstorms expected between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Temperatures are forecast to reach a high near 85 degrees, with a light southwest wind picking up to 10–15 mph.
The evening forecast calls for continued unsettled weather, with showers and possible thunderstorms before 11 p.m., followed by lingering rain chances into the early morning hours. Overnight lows are expected to dip to around 62 degrees.
If you’re heading out this evening, don’t forget to grab an umbrella — and enjoy the gorgeous first half of the day, New Jersey!