20 Inches Of Snow Fall In NJ As Storm Extends Into The Evening

NEW JERSEY — Snow totals have reached 20 inches in one part of northwestern New Jersey, as a lingering storm brought the first flakes of the season in some areas of the state and some much-needed rain elsewhere.

The National Weather Service received a "wide range" of accumulation totals in the Garden State, forecasters said Friday. Communities in higher elevations saw anywhere from 7.5 inches of snow in West Milford to 20 inches of snow at High Point State Park.

Some communities in Morris County recorded 3 to 4 inches of snow, while reports from Bergen County were under 2 inches.

A winter weather advisory was also extended for Morris, Sussex, and Warren Counties until 4 p.m. Friday.

"Above 1,200 feet elevation, the strong winds and weight of snow on tree limbs may down power lines and could cause sporadic power outages," the National Weather Service said in the advisory.

High Point Regional Schools, Vernon Township Schools, Netcong Schools and West Milford Schools all closed Friday. Close to two dozen other districts were on a delayed opening, including Hopatcong, Jefferson, Mahwah, Mount Olive, Ringwood, and Sparta.

More rain and some additional snow are through Friday evening before the storm system moves east of New Jersey, said National Weather Service forecasters.

"Heading into the evening and overnight periods, light snow/rain will gradually diminish with time," said the NWS office in Mount Holly. "Any additional snow accumulation in the north should be very little (less than an inch), if any."

Here are some updated snowfall totals from around the state from the NWS:

Bergen County

• Montvale: 1.5 inches
• Franklin Lakes: 1 inch
• Oakland: 1 inch

Morris County

• Mount Arlington: 3.9 inches
• Lake Hopatcong: 3 inches
• Brookside: 1 inch

Passaic County

• West Milford: 7.5 inches

Sussex County

• High Point: 20 inches
• Highland Lakes: 12 inches
• Sparta Township: 5.5 inches
• Wantage Township: 4.7 inches

The weekend forecast looks dry and mostly sunny, but with some gusty winds both Saturday and Sunday. Showers look likely to begin the week of Thanksgiving, with forecasters hinting that storms could disrupt holiday travel.

Here is the forecast through Sunday from the National Weather Service:

North Jersey

Friday: Rain and snow. High near 37. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday night: Rain and snow, becoming all rain after 10pm, then gradually ending. Steady temperature around 36. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 8 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Northwest wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. West wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. West wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Central Jersey

Friday: Rain and snow. High near 37. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday night: Rain and snow, mainly before 10pm. Low around 35. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32.

South Jersey

Friday: Rain and snow. High near 39. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday night: Rain and snow, mainly before 9pm. Low around 37. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.