By: Richard L. Smith
Good morning New Jersey!
We’re starting the day a bit above freezing across Newark and the North Jersey region, with temperatures sitting around 41 degrees in downtown Newark. 
It’s cold, but not quite the deep freeze we’ve felt in recent weeks, so keep that warm coat handy, but you won’t need the heavy layers all day.
And here’s the big headline, today marks the official start of spring, arriving at 10:46 a.m.
After a long, harsh winter, it’s safe to say many across the Garden State are ready to turn the page.
Expect a decent day overall. We’ll see sunshine early, helping temperatures climb into the 50s, and possibly even touching the low 60s later on.
It should feel pretty comfortable compared to what we’ve been dealing with.
However, changes arrive later in the day.
According to the National Weather Service, clouds will increase this afternoon, with rain likely developing after 5 p.m. Winds will pick up out of the south between 9 to 14 mph, with gusts reaching up to 24 mph.
The chance of rain sits around 60 percent.
Tonight, periods of rain are expected mainly before 11 p.m., with temperatures dropping to around 46 degrees. Winds will shift from the southwest to the northwest overnight, with gusts up to 22 mph.
Rain chances increase to 80 percent.
Enjoy the dry start, take in that first full day of spring, and plan ahead for a wet commute later this evening.
Make it a great day, New Jersey!