FRIDAY’S FORECAST| It’s a somber start to Sept. 11. However, like the American spirit afterwards, it will be bright after these AM showers.
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The 2026 summer weekend weather season at the Jersey Shore had plenty of ups and downs. It started with a major weather setback, improved through the heart of summer, and ended on a much stronger note.
Memorial Day weekend received an F, with rain, chilly temperatures and highs only in the low 60s at times. The weather slowly improved through June and July. The first A came from June 12-15, while the Fourth of July weekend earned a B despite hot, humid and stormy conditions.
The second half of summer was much better. From late July into August, most weekends earned grades in the B range or higher. Overall, the summer finished with three Aâs, four B+âs, six Bâs, one C+, one C and the Memorial Day F.
Labor Day weekend provided the strong finish the summer needed. Saturday and Monday earned Aâs, while Friday and Sunday received B+ grades. That gave Labor Day weekend a 3.75 GPA, or an A.
After all of that, the 2026 summer finished with a 3.0 GPA, tying 2021. The best year remains 2019, which finished with a 3.4 GPA.
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đĽľTHURSDAY’S FORECAST | Summertime heat and humidity for today! This typically only happens only once or twice after Labor Day.
Rain? Ehh. It’s mostly dry this week and through the weekend.
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Locals’ Summer. Warm days, pleasant water and sunshine that isn’t burning.
We know it, we love it and it provides a nice extended boost to the shore economy. Now, with help from large-language models, we now know how long Locals’ Summer lasts, according to the weather data.
A review of post-Labor Day temperatures and rainfall in Atlantic City and Long Branch shows that plenty of warm days typically remain. Long Branch averages about six days reaching at least 80 degrees after the holiday, while Atlantic City averages three. Both locations average double-digit totals of days with highs of 75 degrees or warmer.
Each community holds onto summer differently. Long Branch behaves more like a mainland station because it does not have a bay or river directly to its west. That allows temperatures to climb more easily during the day. Atlantic Cityâs barrier-island location limits some daytime warmth as surrounding waters cool in October, but the water also helps the city remain milder at night.
ENTER OUR RUTGERS REDZONE GIVEAWAY HERE: How long does Locals’ Summer weather last at the Jersey Shore?History shows that localsâ summer can last well into autumn. The standout year was 1941, when 13 post-Labor Day days were both dry and at least 75 degrees. From Oct. 1 through Oct. 8, the average high was at least 81 degrees. The running average high did not fall below 75 until Oct. 24, providing roughly seven weeks of consistently warm weather.
The best odds for a dry day of at least 75 degrees continue through much of September. Around Sept. 25 or 26, the daily chance slips to 25% or lower. Even then, beach-worthy warmth remains possible.
The strongest proof comes from the latest Localsâ Summer days in the database. Depending on the location, both 2022 and 2024 delivered dry weather and temperatures in the 80s on Nov. 7.
The numbers carry an encouraging message: Summer does not suddenly disappear after Labor Day. At the Jersey Shore, warm sunshine can provide an encore lasting weeksâand sometimes monthsâbeyond the traditional season.
âď¸TUESDAY’S FORECAST | Happy Locals’ Summer September! It’s our time to shine and the sun is cooperating realllllly nicely with that.
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âď¸FRIDAY’S FORECAST | You know what they say: Memorial Day Weekend we shiver, Fourth of July we sweat (and boy did we) and Labor Day weekend we shine.
We got that shine for most of our holiday weekend!
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LISTEN TO THE MONTHLY WEATHER ROUNDUP HERE
New Jerseyâs August was soaked by a statewide average of 7.26 inches of rain in 2026. That was 2.69 inches above normal and made it the stateâs 13th-wettest August on record, according to preliminary data from the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist.
The wet weather continued a sharp turn that began around Independence Day. New Jersey entered July with a summer rainfall shortage of about 2 inches. Since July 4, the state has erased that shortage and gained about 2 additional inches.
âBasically, since Independence Day, itâs been raining a lot,â State Climatologist Dr. John Krasting said.
Some areas were hit much harder than others. Parts of eastern Cumberland and Atlantic counties received more than a foot of rain during August. Sections of Middlesex, Union, Hudson and Essex counties picked up about 8 inches. That was roughly twice their normal August rainfall.
Several storms also produced intense rain over short periods. Millville recorded 2.7 inches in only 30 minutes on Aug. 20. That amount has about a 2% chance of happening in any year. It is often called a 1-in-50-year rainfall event.
Cape May Court House saw another rare downpour late in the month. The area received 2.61 inches in one hour, including 1.34 inches in just 15 minutes. Drivers slowed down or pulled onto the shoulder as rain covered roads and reduced visibility.
The rain brought needed drought relief. The share of New Jersey in drought fell from 47% at the start of August to 22% by late August. Conditions also improved for farms and soil moisture across much of the state.
âThe reports Iâm hearing are that itâs definitely improving and getting saturated again,â Krasting said.
August also delivered severe weather. An Aug. 20 tornado touched down in a remote marshy area of Estell Manor. It lasted about 30 seconds and caused no known damage. The National Weather Service rated it EFU, or unknown, because there were no damaged buildings or trees that could be used to estimate its winds. It was only New Jerseyâs second tornado with that newer designation.
The state has now recorded five tornadoes in 2026. New Jersey averages about two each year. Krasting said better radar, more cameras and possible changes in Jersey Shore sea breezes may all play a role in the recent increase.
The month was warm and especially humid, too. New Jerseyâs average temperature was 75.1 degrees. That was 1.5 degrees above normal and ranked as the 12th-warmest August in state history.
âIt was miserably humid and sticky out there,â Krasting said. âYou could feel like youâre wearing the atmosphere outside.â
Around Aug. 7, dew points near the coast stayed close to 75 degrees through the day and night. That is about as humid as it gets in New Jersey. Warm ocean water, frequent clouds and moisture off the Atlantic also kept many coastal nights unusually warm.
đĽľTHURSDAY’S FORECAST | Rain gives way to a steamy, hot sun today. We’re talking inland heat indices over 100F, perhaps for the last time in 2026. Severe weather threatens Friday (again). I’ll tell ya when.
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Labor Day weekend is here, and the Jersey Shore forecast offers plenty to like. Meteorologist Joe Martucci breaks down all four days from worst to bestâbut âworstâ is a relative term this time around. With mostly favorable weather expected, the rankings come down to smaller details that could make a big difference in your beach, boardwalk or barbecue plans.
Which day lands at the bottom, and which one delivers the weekendâs best weather? The top choice may not be the day you expect. Watch Joeâs full forecast from Exit Zero in Cape May to see how every day ranks.
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Louisianaâs coastline is facing a growing threat from rising seas, sinking land and disappearing wetlands, according to a Tulane University scientist who joined the latest episode of Tidal Flooding Talk.
Dr. TorbjĂśrn TĂśrnqvist, a geology professor at Tulane, said sea level is rising about three times faster along coastal Louisiana than the global average. One major reason is that the land itself is sinkingâa process common in large river deltas but especially serious near the Mississippi River.
That combination has made Louisiana one of the worldâs most vulnerable coastlines.
The regionâs wetlands sit only slightly above sea level and help protect communities from storm surge. As the water rises, those marshes can drown and disappear. TĂśrnqvist warned that continued wetland loss could eventually leave New Orleans increasingly exposed, almost like an island surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico.
However, he stressed that his research is not telling residents to pack up and leave today.
TĂśrnqvist lives in New Orleans and said he hopes to remain there for the rest of his life. The larger concern is what conditions could look like for future generations and whether communities will begin preparing before the situation becomes more difficult.
The exact timeline remains uncertain. Major changes could take centuries, but serious problems may develop much sooner as wetlands disappear and the shoreline moves inland.
Louisiana residents also have deep connections to the coast. Fishing, oil and gas production, recreation and family history are tied to the region. That makes any discussion about moving or adapting deeply personal.
TĂśrnqvist said there is no simple answer. Communities may need a mix of stronger protection, careful planning and greater flexibility over time. The goal is not to create panic, but to avoid a future in which families are forced to make major decisions during a crisis.
The episode makes one point clear: Louisianaâs coastal threat is already measurable. The harder question is how residents and leaders will respond while there is still time to plan.