NJ Weather: More NJ Snowstorms Possible After Winter Weather Hits

UPDATE: Winter weather advisory issued in eight New Jersey counties. Read more: NJ Weather: Winter Weather Advisory In 8 NJ Counties

NEW JERSEY – More snowstorms could hit New Jersey this week just as parts of the Garden State were hit with winter weather on Tuesday. Up to 4 inches of snow hit North Jersey on Tuesday, but more storms could arrive and impact the entire state by Thursday and then over the weekend (see road impacts and snow totals below).

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the entire state, saying possibly moderate-to-heavy snow accumulation could start as early as Wednesday night and linger through Thursday and into Friday.

The National Weather Service told Patch that at least 3 inches could arrive on Wednesday and Thursday, and then even more snow could come on Friday, but estimates were too early to predict. (see forecast below).

AccuWeather has estimated that as many as 3 to 12 inches could fall in New Jersey beginning on Wednesday night and lasting until Friday.

AccuWeather noted that New Jersey has become an epicenter for heavy snowfall in February, and that pattern doesn’t appear like it will break any time soon as the displaced polar vortex will keep sending bitterly cold Arctic air southward across the United States.

Periods of snow and ice will continue to push into the mid-Atlantic Wednesday night and engulf much of the Northeast by the end of the day on Thursday, according to AccuWeather. By Friday, the center of the storm may be off the Atlantic coast, allowing for locally heavy snow in parts of the mid-Atlantic, according to AccuWeather.

Travel could be significantly impacted by this storm, and for more than one day, AccuWeather Vice President of Forecasting and Graphic Operations Marshall Moss said in a release. Should more of the ice occur as sleet as opposed to freezing rain, a lower risk of power outages may result as sleet does not cling to elevated surfaces, according to AccuWeather.

Snow arrived in North Jersey early Tuesday, and the National Weather Service had issued a winter weather advisory for five New Jersey counties: Bergen, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties.

Here were the town-by-town snow totals:

Bergen County...

• Oakland 1.0 in
• Ridgewood 0.3 in

Morris County...

• Lake Hopatcong 1.2 in
• Randolph 0.5 in

Passaic County...

• Charlottesburg Reservoir 1.4 in
• Hawthorne 0.1 in

Sussex County...

• Wantage Twp 3.8 in
• Pellettown 3.3 in
• Andover 1.9 in

Warren County...

• Blairstown 1.5 in

Here are the snow total estimates:

Here's what to expect on Tuesday:

• WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 4 inches.
• WHERE...In New Jersey, Sussex. In Pennsylvania, Carbon and Monroe.
• WHEN...From 1 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST Tuesday.
• IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.

New Jersey Department of Transportation officials today issued a Winter Weather Congestion Alert based on the forecast for snow in parts of the state on Tuesday, which may result in difficult driving conditions.

A wintry mix of snow/sleet/rain was expected to begin in the southern region of the state before the morning commute and move northward, with several inches of snow forecast for the northern and western parts of the state. Precipitation is expected to continue through the afternoon commute.

Motorists were advised to avoid unnecessary travel during the day tomorrow as road conditions may be challenging. NJDOT will be deploying the necessary resources in advance of the storm, and is coordinating with the NJ State Police, NJ Transit and the toll road authorities to ensure the most effective response to the storm.

In order for NJDOT and our regional and local transportation partners to safely and efficiently clear roadways of snow and ice, motorists should avoid driving unless you are an essential employee needed for emergency response. If you must drive, motorists are advised to:

· SLOW DOWN, and obey posted speed limits

· Leave early and allow extra time

· Leave a safe following distance between vehicles

· Use caution on bridges and ramps

· Always STAY CLEAR of plowing and spreading trucks. If they are behind you, let them pass

· DO NOT pass between trucks that are in a plow formation

· If you are driving and road conditions deteriorate, PULL OFF somewhere safe and wait it out

· Be patient and use caution

· Keep an emergency kit in your car with a cell phone charger, water, snacks and other items.

See the NJ Office of Emergency Managements web site for more information: http://ready.nj.gov/plan-prepare/winter.shtml

Here are the current road impacts:

• Speed restriction on the Garden State Parkway in both directions from South of Exit 159 - I-80 in Saddle Brook Twp to New York State Line in Montvale Salting Operation 45 mph.
• Weather-related issues on I-80 west of I-80 Toll Bridge in Pahaquarry/Stroudsburg. All lanes open 45 MPH w/ CMV Right Lane Only from I-81 to New Jersey State Line.
• Watermain break on NJ 36 northbound South of Linden Av in Highlands. 1 Right lane and shoulder closed.
• Crash on NJ 21 southbound Exit 14 - US 46 in Clifton. 1 Right lane closed.
• Crash on the Atlantic City Expressway eastbound Exit ramp Exit 28 - NJ 54 in Hammonton. All lanes MOVE OVER FOR HIGHWAY WORKERS.

Here is the forecast:

• Tuesday: Snow likely in North and possibly Central Jersey before 11 a.m., then a chance of rain, snow, and freezing rain between 11 a.m. and 1 pm, then a chance of rain and snow after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 36. East wind around 5 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
• Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
• Wednesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 34. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
• Wednesday night: Snow likely, mainly after 1 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 23. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
• Thursday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
• Thursday night: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 21. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
• Friday: A chance of snow before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
• Friday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29.
• Saturday Night: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 20. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
• Sunday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
• Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.
• Presidents' Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 27.