New Jersey, 1996

Heat in New Jersey, May 20, 1996

May 20, 1996 · NWS PHI · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

The first and for many locations the only heat wave of the season occurred during the end of May. For many locations this heat wave contained the hottest temperatures of the year.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PHI wrote it up.

The first and for many locations the only heat wave of the season occurred during the end of May. For many locations this heat wave contained the hottest temperatures of the year. Even along the shore, west winds on the 20th brought record breaking temperatures. No heat related deaths or injuries were reported. The excessive heat caused the Pennsylvania New Jersey Interconnection Association (PMJ) of 10 Mid Atlantic Utilities to institute a 5 percent cutback in power usage. Demand was about 33 percent above normal. The hottest day was the 20th when records were either tied or set at both the Atlantic City and Philadelphia International Airports and the marina in Atlantic City. Hottest temperatures during this heat wave included 100F at New Lisbon, 98F at Mount Holly and Hazlet, 97F at Chatham and Somerdale, 96F at the Atlantic City International Airport, 95F at Sussex, 94F at Boonton and the Philadelphia International Airport and 93F at the Marina in Atlantic City.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Heat, Eastern Monmouth

When
May 20, 10:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Monmouth forecast zone
Coordinates
40.288, -74.158 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Eastern Cape May

When
May 20, 10:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Cape May forecast zone
Coordinates
39.085, -74.850 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Eastern Atlantic

When
May 20, 10:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Atlantic forecast zone
Coordinates
39.469, -74.634 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Eastern Ocean

When
May 20, 10:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Ocean forecast zone
Coordinates
39.866, -74.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heat
Heat below excessive heat criteria that still caused deaths, injuries or significant impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New Jersey in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in New Jersey, May 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5560408, 5560409, 5560410, 5560411.