New Jersey will be on a weather roller coaster through the end of October, with cold mornings, warm afternoons and a continuation of extremely dry conditions this could pave the way for rapid wildfires.

These are the latest weather forecasts, as New Jersey kicks off the weekend with red flag fire warnings in seven counties and a freeze watch in 10 counties.

Cold mornings will be followed by a big warm-up that could result in record highs or near records by Halloween, according to AccuWeather forecasters.

Parts of New Jersey could see temperatures climb into the upper 70s and reach 80 degrees on Thursday, when trick-or-treating hits the streets.

But for now, temperatures will rise to the mid 60s Saturday afternoon, drop to the mid 30s Saturday night, then stay stuck in the upper 50s Sunday before dropping into the low 30s Monday morning, forecasters predict.

With sunny skies expected each day this weekend and most of next week, temperatures will warm to the low 60s on Monday, upper 60s on Tuesday, mid 70s on Wednesday and upper 70s on Halloween, according to National Weather Service.

Current Halloween records are 81 degrees in Trenton, 82 degrees in Newark and 83 degrees in Atlantic City, all set on October 31, 1946.

New York’s record high on Halloween is 81 degrees and Philadelphia’s record is 82 degrees, also set in 1946.

High temperatures on Halloween normally range between 59 and 62 degrees in our eastern region of the United States.

Fire warnings with red flag

With dry weather and gusty winds creating a high risk of wildfires Saturday, seven New Jersey counties were placed on fire watch. red flag warning.

The warning covers Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties, in effect from Saturday morning until 7 p.m. Saturday.

“The combination of very dry conditions, low relative humidity and gusty winds will result in favorable conditions for rapid fire spread,” the weather service said. “Any fires that develop could become difficult to contain, particularly in the Pine Barrens, New Jersey area.”

Freeze the watch for Monday morning

The National Weather Service has issued a frost watch for Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties.

The watch, which could be upgraded to a warning later this weekend, will be active from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday, when temperatures below freezing are possible.

“Freezing and freezing conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing,” the weather service noted. “Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.”

Current weather radar