Winter Weather Advisory In 4 NJ Counties, Coastal Storm Expected

NEW JERSEY – A winter weather advisory has been issued for four New Jersey counties after a coastal storm was expected to impact most of the state. More rain is expected to potentially cause problems for commuters later on Monday.

Forecasters scaled back their predictions in a 5 p.m. Sunday briefing, saying that strong winds were no longer a concern. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for Sussex, Passaic, Warren and Morris counties, saying a wintry mix could cause very slippery sidewalks, roads and bridges.

The hazardous conditions were expected to impact the morning commute, and the advisory was in effect until 10 a.m. Monday. But more rain is expected after 5 p.m. on Monday, and the drive home could be even more hazardous across the state.

A coastal flood warning remained in effect for Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and eastern Burlington counties, where high water could be a problem at high tide on Sunday night and on Monday morning.

One to two feet of water above ground level is possible in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways, the NWS says. At these levels, widespread flooding of roadways is expected with many roads becoming impassable. Some damage to vulnerable structures may begin to occur, the NWS says.

Here is what the National Weather Service says you should specifically expect:

• Moderate coastal flooding is expected for the Monday high tide cycle along the Atlantic coast and the lower Delaware Bay.
• Minor coastal flooding may be possible on the upper Delaware Bay and tidal Delaware River on Monday. Minor flooding may be possible on the eastern shore of Maryland Monday.
• Gale force wind gusts up to 35 kts are expected on the Atlantic coastal waters of New Jersey and Delaware, and on the lower Delaware Bay through Monday morning. Additionally, seas will remain 10 to 12 ft through most of Monday.
• Light Freezing Rain is expected for northeastern PA and northwestern NJ tonight into Monday morning, which could yield slippery roads during the morning commute.

AccuWeather called the storm a "nor'easter," saying its impacts will expand to the coastal Northeast through Monday morning.

Gale warnings are in effect along the coastline from South Carolina to New Jersey and storm watches are in place along the North Carolina coast, which was recently battered by Hurricane Dorian, according to AccuWeather.

The difference in pressure between the strengthening storm and high pressure over the interior Northeast will create strong winds from the northeast and north, according to AccuWeather.

Enough wind, waves and above-normal tides are in store to cause significant chill, minor coastal flooding and some beach erosion from Maryland and Delaware to New Jersey, southeastern New York state and eastern Massachusetts from the storm.

Here is the forecast:

• Sunday night: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind 15 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
• Monday: Rain likely, mainly after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 45. North wind 9 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible
• Monday night: Rain likely, mainly before 7pm. Cloudy, with a low around 34. West wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.