Honestly, if you’ve lived in Middlesex County for more than a week, you know the drill. You walk out the door in a heavy parka, and by noon, you’re regretting every life choice as the sun beats down on the Route 1 corridor. It’s that classic Jersey unpredictability. Right now, the weather forecast in Edison NJ is doing exactly what it loves to do in mid-January: keeping us guessing.
The air is crisp. 28°F, to be exact.
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It feels more like 19°F once that west wind kicks in at 13 mph. It's the kind of cold that finds the gap between your scarf and your chin. But here’s the thing—people keep talking about a "January Thaw," and while we had a bit of a mild stretch earlier, the atmosphere is basically pivoting back to a much harsher reality.
The Polar Vortex Is Entering the Chat
We’re currently sitting in a clear nighttime stretch, but don't let the stars fool you. Thursday, January 15, is topping out at 41°F, which sounds almost reasonable until you see the overnight drop to 20°F. If you’re commuting from the Metuchen side or heading down toward Highland Park, the roads are dry for now, but the wind is the real story today. We’re looking at 16 mph gusts from the west.
It’s breezy. Kinda annoying for anyone trying to keep a car steady on the Parkway.
By Friday, the mercury takes a dive. We're looking at a high of only 32°F. That’s a 9-degree drop in 24 hours. The humidity is hovering around 39%, so it’s a dry, biting cold. If you have outdoor plans, Saturday is the one to watch. The weather forecast in Edison NJ for January 17th is calling for a messy mix of rain and snow. With a high of 41°F and a 45% chance of precipitation, it’s going to be that slushy, grey Jersey mess that makes the Oak Tree Road shopping district a bit of a nightmare to navigate.
Why Central Jersey Weather Is Such a Weird Beast
Edison sits in a geographic sweet spot—or a sour spot, depending on how much you hate shoveling. We aren't quite the "North" like Sussex, and we aren't the "South" like Cherry Hill. Rutgers climatologists often point out that Central Jersey acts as a battleground between continental air from the west and maritime influences from the Atlantic.
This creates microclimates.
Ever notice how it’s snowing in Menlo Park Mall but just raining by the Raritan River? That’s not your imagination. The urban heat island effect is massive here. All that asphalt on Route 27 and the sprawling warehouses near the turnpike act like a giant radiator. It holds onto heat, often turning what should be a "winter wonderland" into a "winter puddle."
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The 10-Day Outlook: A Frigid Slide
If you think Friday is cold, just wait for next Tuesday. We’re forecasting a high of 21°F and a low of 13°F. That is legitimately dangerous cold for anyone working outdoors or dealing with drafty windows.
- Monday, Jan 19: Sunny but deceptive with a low of 14°F.
- Tuesday, Jan 20: The coldest day of the stretch. Sunny, 21°F / 13°F.
- Wednesday, Jan 21: Light snow returns. 20% chance.
The end of the month looks even more interesting. By Sunday, January 25, the weather forecast in Edison NJ indicates a significant snow potential with a 40% chance during the day and 45% at night. The low? A bone-chilling 7°F.
Surviving the Edison Chill: Actual Practical Steps
It isn't just about wearing a coat. In this part of Jersey, the salt on the roads is brutal on your vehicle’s undercarriage. With the upcoming mix of rain, snow, and then deep freezes, that slush is going to turn into a corrosive paste.
Wash your car. Seriously.
But do it on a day like today when it's above freezing, or you’ll find your doors frozen shut by tomorrow morning. Also, check your tire pressure. Every 10-degree drop in temperature usually results in a 1-PSI loss. When we swing from 41°F today to 13°F next week, your "low tire" light is going to be screaming at you.
Keep an eye on the Saturday mix. The transition from snow to rain is the prime time for "black ice" on overpasses and exit ramps. If you're heading toward the Edison train station early Saturday morning, give yourself an extra 15 minutes. It’s better to be bored on the platform than stuck in a fender bender on Talmadge Road.
Stay warm, Edison. The real winter is finally showing up.