As the old saying goes, "If birds fly low, expect rain and a blow."

Keep an eye on the sky for bird flight pattern starting tomorrow. It'll be a forebearer of impending weather. New Jersey is expecting a very good rain and, unfortunately, powerful wind gusts early Friday morning.

Skies were pleasant today, and temperatures warmed back to seasonable December standards. The slight bump in temperatures started to slowly melt away at the existing snowpack.

As temperatures stay above average, more of that snow will continue to disappear. Tonight, as temperatures begin to dip, some of that melt could freeze over, so be careful of some patchy ice tomorrow morning. Early sunshine and breezy winds from the south will start our warmup on Thursday. Temperatures will be rising all day long.

Clouds will be collecting as a powerful storm moves in from the Plains. Afternoon highs tomorrow will easily reach near the upper 40s. It's possible that low 50s will make an appearance.

When do the heavens open up? The first sign of showers is around 8 p.m. tomorrow evening. Steadier, stormier weather after midnight. The worst of it is around 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. This is when the nastiest rains coincide with the gustiest winds. While I think computer guidance is "overdoing" it on gust speed (50-60 mph, especially at the shore), a consistent 40-45 mph is more than likely. It will be a very unpleasant commute to work and school.

When does the rain end? Showers taper by 9 a.m. and the last drops are moving away from our beaches by 11 a.m. Here's the kicker - the winds will quickly change direction and immediately start pumping colder Canadian air back at us. Friday’s daily highs will be set very early in the morning. Once the front passes, temperatures will be "crashing" all day long.