By: Richard L. Smith
Happy Friday, New Jersey! Residents across Newark and North Jersey are waking up to a warm and partly cloudy morning as the region heads into Father’s Day weekend.
According to the National Weather Service, it’s currently 72 degrees in downtown Newark with mild conditions to start the day.
While Friday is expected to remain mostly dry, the threat of rain increases heading into the weekend.
Today’s forecast includes a slight chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 11 a.m., with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 80 degrees. 
Winds will remain light, shifting to the southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon.
By Friday night, the chance of showers and thunderstorms grows, with more widespread rain likely after 2 a.m. Temperatures will dip to a low around 62 degrees.
Looking ahead, rain may impact parts of the Father’s Day weekend, but forecasters note it won’t be a total washout.
Keep the umbrella handy—and enjoy the day, New Jersey!