NJ Weather: 24 Inches Of Snow, Nor'easter Winter Storm Warning

UPDATE: Please reach Patch's update on the storm. Read more: NJ Weather: Latest Snow Estimates, Timing For NJ Nor'easter

NEW JERSEY — A winter storm warning was issued in New Jersey now that a nor'easter could produce up to 24 inches of snow beginning on Sunday, and could impact the Garden State into Tuesday morning. Authorities say they're also addressing the potential impact on COVID vaccination sites.

Heavy snow is possible and winds could gust as high as 50 mph, creating significant blowing and drifting of snow, according to the National Weather Service. More than an inch per hour could fall during the height of the storm, which could be anytime between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday, the NWS says.

Sarah Johnson, a National Weather Service meteorologist, told Patch that the storm will be a nor'easter and "it does look like it's going to be significant storm both as winter weather system and as a coastal flooding event."

Col. Patrick Callahan, superintendent of the State Police, noted that the wind could cause the most problems.

"We will be certainly with our DOT partners and BPU partners throughout the weekend," he said. "We are activating our State Emergency Operations Center Sunday and Monday."

Callahan said the State Police is working with the operators of the COVID-19 vaccination mega-sites and "we have emergency snow removal contracts in place with all of those sites to make sure that those ways in and out and the parking lots are clear."

"Also in conversation with DOT, we're making sure that those routes to those mega-sites are clear, up to and including if we need to escort and make sure that the FedEx and UPS deliveries of the vaccines," he said.

Roads will also be brined over the weekend before the snow starts falling on Sunday night.

Here are the alerted areas:

Here's what else you should know:

• Total snow accumulations of 5 to 24 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph.
• The storm is expected to arrive after 6 p.m. on Sunday evening and last through late Monday night, and perhaps into Tuesday morning.
• Beginning Sunday night and lasting into Monday morning, a mix with or change to sleet and rain is likely from the coast up to near the I-95 corridor. Precipitation changes back to snowby late Monday before winding down Tuesday afternoon.
• Significant snowfall is expected, with the heaviest amounts favored over central and northern New Jersey. The expected area of heaviest snow has shifted northward. However, the exact storm track remains uncertain and a shift in track could bring the heavier snow amounts farther north or south.
• The heaviest snow is likely during the day Monday, when rates could exceed 1 inch per hour in the heaviest bands. Snow will likely continue into Tuesday, but additional accumulation then will be limited.
• Strong winds will develop especially near the coast and over the waters with gusts reaching 40 to 50-plus mph, strongest on Monday.
• This could result in power outages. Inland, gusts could reach 35 to 45 mph, creating reduced visibility and very hazardous travel in blowing and drifting snow.
• Coastal flooding is likely and could reach moderate levels as early as Monday morning along the Atlantic coast and Delaware Bay.
• Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.
• Strong northeast winds, coastal flooding and beach erosion are possible, the NWS says.

The National Weather Service has released preliminary snow total predictions for New Jersey:

AccuWeather says the total amount of snow could be as much as 1 foot, or more, and if the storm swings to the east and tracks off the coast, it will set up the band of heaviest snow right over the Interstate 95 corridor from Washington, DC, through New Jersey and all the way to Boston.

On the other hand, should the storm remain closer to the coast, it will be more likely to produce a swath of moderate to heavy snow farther inland across the central Appalachians to interior parts of New England, according to AccuWeather.

Snow will come down at a "dizzying pace" along some major route, with intense snow rates that could become heavy enough for thundersnow to occur in the heaviest snow bands that develop, according to AccuWeather.

Here is the forecast:

• Sunday: A chance of snow, mainly after 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 29. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half-inch possible.
• Sunday night: Snow, mainly after 10 pl.m. Low around 25. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
• Monday: Snow before 1 p.m., then rain and snow. High near 35. Breezy, with a northeast wind 20 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
• Monday night: Snow. Low around 27. Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.
• Tuesday: Snow likely before 1 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., then a chance of snow after 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Tuesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.