Weather forecasters are urging drivers to slow down and use extra caution this weekend, because they might have to contend with icy roads as the latest winter storm takes aim at New Jersey.
Because of fluctuating temperatures in the atmosphere and on the ground when the storm arrives on Saturday, conditions will vary from region to region. Some parts of the state could get as much as 5 to 7 inches of snow, and other areas may get just light snow but a dangerous coating of ice from sleet and freezing rain before the storm winds down Sunday morning.
Forecasters from the National Weather Service said this is a very tricky storm to predict, with the clash between colder air and warmer air occurring at various times throughout the storm.
The temperature shifts will determine which areas get mostly snow with very little ice and which places see very little snow with substantial ice from sleet and freezing rain.
“While there remains some uncertainty in the exact timing of precipitation types, the main takeaway remains the same: wintry precipitation will lead to icy and slippery conditions Saturday evening through early Sunday morning,” the National Weather Service’s main forecast office in New Jersey said Friday afternoon.
Light to moderate snow is expected in northern New Jersey, along with dangerous ice accumulations in many areas of the state this weekend.National Weather Service
Forecasters say the storm, coming from the Ohio Valley, could bring some snow as early as Saturday afternoon, but the bulk of the storm probably won’t arrive until Saturday evening.
“A wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain are forecast across many areas near and south of I-78,” the weather service said. “North of I-78, mostly snow to start Saturday evening, mixing with some sleet and freezing rain overnight.”
As warmer air drifts in from the south into Saturday night, “any wintry precipitation will change to plain rain from south to north into the Philadelphia metro overnight Saturday night into early Sunday morning,” the weather service said.
Precipitation should end completely by daybreak Sunday across most of New Jersey, but could linger through late Sunday morning in the state’s northeastern region.
These are the main impacts and anticipated timing of the winter storm that’s heading towards New Jersey this weekend.National Weather Service
Winter storm alerts, snow & ice forecast for each county
Atlantic County
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to 2 inches and ice accumulations around one-tenth of an inch.
- Winter weather advisory: Noon Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday.
Bergen County (eastern)
- Forecast: Total snow and sleet accumulations between 3 and 5 inches, and a light glaze of ice possible.
- Winter weather advisory: 5 p.m. Saturday to 11 a.m. Sunday.
Bergen County (western)
- Forecast: Heavy snow expected, with accumulations between 5 and 7 inches, and a light glaze of ice possible.
- Winter storm warning: 5 p.m. Saturday to 11 a.m. Sunday.
Areas shaded in pink are under a winter storm warning, including western sections of Bergen and Passaic counties in northern New Jersey. Most of New Jersey is under winter weather advisories.National Weather Service
Burlington County (northwest)
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to 1 inch and ice accumulations between one-tenth and two-tenths of an inch.
- Winter weather advisory: Noon Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday.
Burlington County (southeast)
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to 2 inches and ice accumulations around one-tenth of an inch.
- Winter weather advisory: Noon Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday.
Camden County
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to 1 inch and ice accumulations between one-tenth and two-tenths of an inch.
- Winter weather advisory: Noon Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday.
Cape May County
- Forecast: Light snow and sleet expected before the icy precipitation changes to rain Saturday night.
- No winter weather advisory issued as of late Friday.
Cumberland County
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to 1 inch and ice accumulations around a light glaze.
- Winter weather advisory: 10 a.m. Saturday to midnight Saturday night.
Essex County
- Forecast: Total snow and sleet accumulations between 3 and 5 inches, and a light glaze of ice possible.
- Winter weather advisory: 5 p.m. Saturday to 11 a.m. Sunday.
Gloucester County
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to 1 inch and ice accumulations between one-tenth and two-tenths of an inch.
- Winter weather advisory: Noon Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday.
Hudson County
- Forecast: Total snow and sleet accumulations between 3 and 5 inches, and a light glaze of ice possible.
- Winter weather advisory: 5 p.m. Saturday to 11 a.m. Sunday.
Hunterdon County
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to 2 inches and ice accumulations up to two-tenths of an inch.
- Winter weather advisory: 3 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday.
Mercer County
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to 2 inches and ice accumulations up to two-tenths of an inch.
- Winter weather advisory: 3 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday.
Middlesex County
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to 2 inches and ice accumulations up to two-tenths of an inch.
- Winter weather advisory: 3 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday.
Monmouth County (western)
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to 2 inches and ice accumulations around one-tenth of an inch.
- Winter weather advisory: Noon Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday.
Morris County
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations between 2 and 4 inches and ice accumulations up to one-tenth of an inch.
- Winter weather advisory: 3 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday.
Ocean County (western)
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to 2 inches and ice accumulations around one-tenth of an inch.
- Winter weather advisory: Noon Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday.
Passaic County (eastern)
- Forecast: Total snow and sleet accumulations between 3 and 5 inches, and a light glaze of ice possible.
- Winter weather advisory: 5 p.m. Saturday to 11 a.m. Sunday.
Passaic County (western)
- Forecast: Heavy snow expected, with accumulations between 5 and 7 inches, and a light glaze of ice possible.
- Winter storm warning: 5 p.m. Saturday to 11 a.m. Sunday.
Salem County
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to 1 inch and ice accumulations between one-tenth and two-tenths of an inch.
- Winter weather advisory: Noon Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday.
Somerset County
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to 2 inches and ice accumulations up to two-tenths of an inch.
- Winter weather advisory: 3 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday.
Sussex County
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations between 2 and 4 inches and ice accumulations up to one-tenth of an inch.
- Winter weather advisory: 3 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday.
Union County
- Forecast: Total snow and sleet accumulations between 3 and 5 inches, and a light glaze of ice possible.
- Winter weather advisory: 5 p.m. Saturday to 11 a.m. Sunday.
Warren County
- Forecast: Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations between 2 and 4 inches and ice accumulations up to one-tenth of an inch.
- Winter weather advisory: 3 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday.
Current weather radar
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Len Melisurgo may be reached at [email protected] or on X at @LensReality.
