Back-to-back winter storms will bring snow to New Jersey this weekend with 2 to 4 inches expected Saturday in northern counties, followed by 1 to 2 inches of snow Sunday in the southern half of the state.
The heaviest accumulations from Saturday’s storm are expected north of Interstate 78, according to the National Weather Service.
A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 4 p.m. Saturday for Morris, Sussex, Warren and western Passaic counties.
“Travel could become treacherous at times,” the weather service said. “Snowfall rates of over 1 inch per hour possible from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. north of I-78.”
For counties between I-78 and I-95, accumulations will be limited to around 1 inch or less.
Areas near and south of I-95 will see warming temperatures leading to a changeover from snow to rain by mid-morning, with little to no accumulation expected.
Sunday will bring another round of light snow, mainly to areas along and south of I-95 as a coastal storm brushes the Jersey Shore.
“Tomorrow’s light snow will be more focused south and east of I-95, beginning early Sunday morning continuing through the early evening,” the weather service said early Saturday. “Still a little uncertainty with that forecast and winter weather advisories may be needed near the coast.”
Up to 2 inches of snow is possible south and east of I-95.
Snowfall totals could exceed 2 inches in some locations, particularly in Atlantic, Cape May, southwestern Burlington and southern Ocean Counties.
The weather service has those areas with around a 30% chance of more than 2 inches of snow.
The weather service said there is uncertainty about snow accumulation in coastal areas due to potential mixing with rain at the start of the storm.
A prolonged period of below-normal temperatures will continue from Sunday night through Wednesday.
The coldest conditions are expected Monday night through Tuesday.
Monday night wind chills will be in the single digits across New Jersey.
Tuesday will be brutally cold with highs remaining in the 20s statewide.
Wind chills will be in the single digits and low teens across most areas.
Wednesday will bring a break in the cold snap as temperatures moderate toward more seasonable levels, potentially reaching above-normal readings by Thursday.
However, a cold front moving through late in the week will drop temperatures back to near or slightly below normal levels heading into the weekend.
AccuWeather’s long-range forecast shows that change could send some additional snow and ice toward New Jersey.
“During the middle to latter part of next week, the jet stream will take on a more west-to-east pattern,” AccuWeather Senior Long-Range Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said. “That may ease the harshest cold for a time, but it could also allow one or two storms to spread snow and ice across a broad area of the Central and Eastern states.”
Current weather radar
