Weather
Major Winter Storm Possible This Week In NJ
Snow is possible for the region, but forecasters say much uncertainty remains.
NEW JERSEY ? A significant winter storm event is forecasted to hit New Jersey this week, though officials warn that it remains unclear exactly what type of precipitation the latest front will bring with it.
The storm is expected to arrive Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Some mix of rain and snow will continue through the early part of Sunday, though it's too early to tell what that mix will look like.
"A highly uncertain forecast remains for the I-95 corridor and points south and east," the National Weather Service said. "Some wintry mix will be possible, but many will see heavy rain."
Find out what's happening in Across New Jerseyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Travel disruptions are more likely on Sunday as opposed to Friday night or Saturday due to the timing of the storm.
So how much snow is possible for New Jersey?
Find out what's happening in Across New Jerseyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Meteorologists say it depends on the track and strength of the storm. Normally when a storm comes up from the south it will pull warm air with it creating a wintry mix.
AccuWeather says 6 to 12 inches of snow are likely where precipation is chiefly snow. However, "where rain takes over quickly, little to no accumulation of snow is likely," AccuWeather added. "A wintry mix or ice could limit snowfall accumulation to a few inches or less."
Even if there is only rain, the storm is still going to be significant, with flooding impacts expected. Travel is expected to be impacted over the weekend on major highways and interstates across the northeast.
Should anywhere near that snow total fall in the region, it would mark the first accumulating snowfall of that magnitude in two winters.
AccuWeather says this could be the "first widespread significant winter storm of the season and maybe years" for many in the northeast. As of New Year's Day, it has been 683 days since the New York City area received at least 1 inch of snowfall ? which was on Feb. 16, 2022.
The Garden State has been in the midst of a historic snow drought. Lengthy periods without accumulation constitute a "snow drought," which can harm water supplies and ecosystems.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that snow droughts will occur more frequently amid climate change.
Many areas along much of I-95 have received less than a third of their historical average snowfall, with some areas under 10 percent of the average, according to Accuweather.
From Oct. 1 to Dec. 1, 2023, the New York City area usually averages 5.5 inches of snowfall yet we only received trace amounts.
Here is a look at the upcoming forecast:
North Jersey
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 40. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: A slight chance of snow showers after 1 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 30. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 40. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 21.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 36.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.
Saturday: A chance of snow after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
Saturday Night: Snow. Low around 27. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.
Sunday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.
Central Jersey
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 43. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. West wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 45. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: A slight chance of rain and snow showers between 1 and 4 a.m., then a slight chance of snow showers after 4 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 30. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 22.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 38.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.
Saturday: A chance of snow after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
Saturday Night: Rain and snow. Low around 30. Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.
Sunday: A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.
South Jersey
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 42. North wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. West wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. West wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Cloudy, with a low around 31. West wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 10 a.m, then a slight chance of rain showers between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 21. Blustery.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 39.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.
Saturday: A chance of rain after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
Saturday Night: Rain. Low around 31. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.
Sunday: A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Blustery.
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