Winter Weather Advisory In 3 NJ Counties, Coastal Storm Expected

NEW JERSEY – A winter weather advisory was issued for three New Jersey counties now that a coastal storm, as well as a wintry mix, are expected to hit much of the Garden State beginning on Friday and Saturday.

Thunderstorms are possible in the central and southern parts of the state, and North Jersey may also hear some thunder as well, according to the National Weather Service. Winds gusting to 30 mph are also expected.

The NWS issued the winter weather advisory for Morris, Sussex and Warren counties, saying freezing rain is expected. Total ice accumulations of around two tenths of an inch are expected. The advisory will be in effect from midnight until 1 p.m. on Saturday.

A hazardous weather outlook and a coastal flood advisory were issued for Middlesex County, the Jersey Shore and South Jersey, where thunderstorms are possible overnight and into Saturday.

Here are the affected areas:

The primary form of precipitation will be rain in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, central and southeastern New York state and central and southeastern New England, according to AccuWeather.

Despite the primary form of precipitation being rain in these areas 100 miles inland of the coast, a cold ground can cause a layer of black ice to form, according to AccuWeather.

Because of the patchy nature of the ice, some motorists and pedestrians may think the entire stretch of roads or sidewalks are just wet. The ground can be icy even though car or home thermometers show temperatures above freezing.

The combination of heavy rain and gusty winds for a time can lead to travel delays in the I-95 corridor, according to AccuWeather. Enough rain can fall along the coast to cause urban flooding.

This intense band of rain is likely to swing through Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Harrisburg and State College, Pennsylvania, during Saturday morning, according to AccuWeather. Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware, are likely to be hit during the middle part of the day Saturday. The intense rain is then scheduled to hit New York City late Saturday afternoon and evening with Boston likely to be hit later Saturday night.

Here is the forecast:

• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
• Friday night: A chance of rain or freezing rain, mainly after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. East wind 8 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
• Saturday: Rain likely before 10 a.m., then rain and possibly a thunderstorm between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., then rain after 4 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 51. Breezy, with an east wind 11 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
• Saturday night: Rain, mainly before 7pm. Low around 35. West wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. West wind 9 to 15 mph.