Intense severe weather will be moving from the deep south toward New Jersey through the weekend. The intensity of the storms tomorrow from Louisianna up to Iowa is going to be severe. Numerous tornados will wreak havoc. That same energy will make it to the east coast by Sunday night, but it should lose a lot of its power by the time it reaches New Jersey.

We are still dealing with an onshore flow and during times of high tide tonight and tomorrow we can expect some saltwater inundation in the usual spots. Overcast and chilly with low in the upper 30s to low 40s. Patchy fog along the coast is also possible.

Saturday is cloudy with hints of sun, but those moments will be brief. Temperatures will be seasonable in the low 50s. The winds will eventually begin to shift to the south and get gustier Saturday night into Sunday. These winds alone, the persistence and strength of the gusts could, on their own, bring down branches or topple older/dead trees.

The winds will bring much warmer air overhead for Sunday. Highs could rise into the upper 60s and low 70s if there are breaks of sun. These winds are ahead of powerful storms. What will work in our favor is the time of day the storms rip through. There won't be sunshine to work with so the storms will weaken during the nighttime hours. A deluge of rain is possible. 1-2 inches from 11 p.m. Saturday night through 9 a.m. Monday morning. That might lead to some localized flooding, and it will help, won't end, but it will help the drought situation we've been dealing with since fall.

St Patrick's Day is looking OK. Morning showers will likely leave behind some rainbows we can all be wishing upon as the day wears on.