Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Metuchen, New Jersey Weather

Cicadas claim the afternoon. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Metuchen weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Metuchen, NJ
Saturday, July 4 at 8:48 PM
92
°
Clear
Feels like
96°
Humidity
42%
Wind
4 mph
Sunrise
1:32 AM
Sunset
4:31 PM
Metuchen, NJ
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastMetuchen, NJ: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 72 to 94 degrees Fahrenheit with a 68% chance of precipitation at 11 PM.
L 72°H 94°
Metuchen, NJ
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Heavy Rain
    68%
    0.90″
    98°73°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Heavy Rain
    58%
    0.91″
    83°72°-15°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Thunderstorm
    94%
    0.66″
    75°66°-8°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Drizzle
    89%
    0.02″
    70°63°-5°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    26%
    —
    80°63°+10°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Light Drizzle
    12%
    —
    84°65°+4°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    35%
    0.04″
    90°71°+6°
Metuchen, NJ
Next 24 hours · Hot now
HOT 90°65°83°100°6p12a6a12pnow 94°high 94°low 72°PRECIP %
Metuchen, NJ
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
WNW
297° · steady
Direction
WNW
297°
Sustained
4
mph
Gust
7
mph
Peak 24h
19
avg 6
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 6 · pk 19 @ 11:00a
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6B7-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 2912SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Metuchen, NJ
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1006.9
-0.4 mb in 3h · steady · 29.73 inHg
Now
1006.9
mb
3h
-0.4
mb
12h
-2.6
mb
24h
-3.6
mb
Regime · RAIN
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1007–1011
1000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1010.71006.61006.9
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Damp, unsettled regime — wet weather lingers nearby.
Metuchen, NJ
Air quality
106
AQI
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
↑+23 in 6h

AQI 106 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), driven by Ozone. AQI up 23 in the last 6 hours — air quality is degrading. Ozone at AQI 66. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~100%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

CAUTION Sensitive groups (children, elderly, respiratory conditions) should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5Good
5.7μg/m³
PM 10Good
6μg/m³
NO₂Good
6μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERUnhealthy SG
117μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.1

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 66. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~100%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 66
UV peak
0.1 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 8

PM × Wind × Precip

PM scrubbed by 3 hours of recent rain — PM2.5 down to 5.7 µg/m³, PM10 to 5.8 µg/m³.

PM2.5/PM10
0.98
Wind
calm
Recent rain
3h in last 6h
Pattern
washed out

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³770
Metuchen, NJ
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
0%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
107.6mi
UNLIMITED
114 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
00:48 UTC · Metuchen, NJ · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
00:48 UTC · Metuchen, NJ · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Metuchen, NJ
Satellite · infrared · animated
Metuchen, NJ
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Metuchen, NJ
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:00 AM
Sunrise
1:32 AM
Daylight
14h 59m
Sunset
4:31 PM
Civil dusk
9:05 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Metuchen, NJ
The moon
Waning Gibbous
77% illuminated
Moonrise
11:14 PM
Moonset
11:07 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Metuchen, NJ
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

fish
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Metuchen at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 21°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 19 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 08840

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Metuchen

SPC has placed Metuchen in the Slight Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYSLGTSlight Risk
  • TOMORROWMRGLMarginal Risk
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Scattered severe storms possible. A few tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind gusts possible.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: The year turns in silence.January 6–10: Ice thickens on still water.January 11–15: Shortest shadows lengthen.January 16–20: Pheasants begin to call.January 21–25: Springs begin to thaw.January 26–31: Chickadees announce dawn.February 1–5: East wind softens the frost.February 6–10: Sap begins to rise.February 11–15: First snowdrops appear.February 16–20: Red-winged blackbirds return.February 21–25: Rain begins to replace snow.February 26–28: Skunk cabbage pushes through ice.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the reservoir.March 6–10: Crocuses open to weak sun.March 11–15: Peepers call from the marsh.March 16–20: Woodcocks spiral at dusk.March 21–25: Equinox — light overtakes dark.March 26–31: Forsythia opens along the fences.April 1–5: Cherry blossoms drift like snow.April 6–10: Warblers appear in the understory.April 11–15: Magnolias bloom and fall in a day.April 16–20: Dogwoods float above the forest.April 21–25: Lilacs perfume the evening.April 26–30: Last frost releases the garden.May 1–5: Warblers flood the Ramble.May 6–10: Tulip poplars light their candles.May 11–15: Shad run up the rivers.May 16–20: Roses open along the stoops.May 21–25: Firefly scouts appear at dusk.May 26–31: Strawberries ripen in the sun.June 1–5: Fireflies rise from the lawn.June 6–10: Elderflowers open in hedgerows.June 11–15: Solstice approaches — longest light.June 16–20: Honeysuckle sweetens the night.June 21–25: Solstice — the sun stands still.June 26–30: Lightning bugs drift through oaks.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Queen Anne's lace lines the roads.July 11–15: Thunder builds each afternoon.July 16–20: Corn reaches for the tassels.July 21–25: Dog days settle in the haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their chorus.August 1–5: Night falls a minute earlier.August 6–10: Sunflowers face the morning.August 11–15: Goldenrod begins to bloom.August 16–20: Crickets pulse through warm nights.August 21–25: First cool morning surprises.August 26–31: Monarchs stage for flight.September 1–5: School buses reappear.September 6–10: Asters purple the roadsides.September 11–15: Hawk migration over the Hudson.September 16–20: Equinox — dark overtakes light.September 21–25: Apples hang heavy on the branch.September 26–30: Geese begin to chevron south.October 1–5: Witch hazel blooms as others fade.October 6–10: Maples begin to blaze.October 11–15: Frost paints the garden black.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Leaves rattle down the gutters.October 26–31: Clocks fall back — dusk at five.November 1–5: Ginkgos drop overnight.November 6–10: Last leaves cling stubbornly.November 11–15: Juncos arrive from the north.November 16–20: Bare branches reveal the sky.November 21–25: First flurries dust the rooftops.November 26–30: Woodsmoke curls through the block.December 1–5: Darkness settles before dinner.December 6–10: Holly and winterberry persist.December 11–15: Shortest day approaches.December 16–20: Ice begins to form at the edges.December 21–25: Solstice — the sun begins return.December 26–31: The year turns in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

Annual cicada buzz begins, peaking in the heat of the day.

Day 186 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

Metuchen's warmest month is July (~77°F mean) and its coldest is January (~30°F). Rainfall peaks in December (4.2 inches) and bottoms out in February (3.0 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January30°3.4″14
February32°3.0″13
March41°3.7″15
April52°3.9″17
May61°3.7″18
June70°3.8″17
July77°3.5″16
August75°4.0″17
September69°3.6″13
October58°3.1″11
November44°3.7″13
December35°4.2″13

Regional context

By the nearest station's NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Metuchen sees 30°F Januarys and 77°F Julys, a 46°F range, plus around 43.6 inches of precipitation across 175 days.

Rainfall in Metuchen stays even across the calendar: December tops out at 4.2 inches over 13.3 rainy days, and February still logs 3.0 inches across 12.5 — a narrow range for Metuchen. That even rhythm groups Metuchen with places like Menlo Park Terrace, NJ, Fords, NJ and Iselin, NJ.

The cool-season window in Metuchen starts at mid-April, when nights stop freezing — think peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. Hold Metuchen's tender crops — tomatoes, peppers, basil — until 10-14 days past Metuchen's last frost. It shuts near mid-November, when freezes return to Metuchen and tender plants need cover. In Metuchen, low spots run 4-7°F colder than nearby slopes, nudging Metuchen's frost dates a week.

Similar climates: Menlo Park Terrace, NJ, Fords, NJ, Iselin, NJ, Keasbey, NJ, South Plainfield, NJ.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Metuchen?
Frost typically leaves Metuchen by mid-April and returns to Metuchen near mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Metuchen?
Rainfall in Metuchen peaks in December near 4.2 inches, out of about 44 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in Metuchen?
On average July tops the year in Metuchen at about 77°F.
What is the coldest month in Metuchen?
The coldest stretch in Metuchen falls in January, around 30°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Metuchen?
Around mid-April, start frost-hardy crops in Metuchen; tomatoes and basil belong a fortnight later.
How many rainy days does Metuchen get?
Metuchen records around 175 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Metuchen?
Since January in Metuchen averages 30°F, Metuchen's USDA zone follows that floor — confirm it by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Metuchen?
Metuchen's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Metuchen?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Metuchen in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Metuchen?
Current conditions for Metuchen and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Metuchen forecast updated?
The Metuchen forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Metuchen?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Metuchen are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Metuchen?
The next few days in Metuchen's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

The warm-summer humid continental climate of Metuchen, New Jersey carries typical Januarys near 30°F and Julys around 77°F — 47°F of seasonal travel.

Metuchen sees close to 44 inches of precipitation annually, falling across some 175 wet days.

From 40.5°N, Metuchen sees a 47°F seasonal swing that governs Metuchen's planting and frost windows.

Beaches near Metuchen

Each linked page shows live water temperature, wave height, swim and surf verdicts, tides, and rip-current risk from NDBC + NOAA + NWS data.

All cities in New Jersey →

Staten Island, NY weather →

ZIP codes in Metuchen

  • 08840

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.