Watches Expand, Schools Delay As First Round Of Winter Weather Hits NJ

NEW JERSEY — South Jerseyans are preparing to see up to 8 inches of snow as the first round of winter weather moves into the region Tuesday afternoon.

Things will start by 4 p.m. in South Jersey, with 6 to 8 inches of snow expected in Cape May County, according to the National Weather Service. Snow will move north through the Garden State in the afternoon and evening, with snowfall totals decreasing the further north you get.

A Winter Storm Warning is in place for Cumberland, Cape May and Atlantic counties from 4 p.m. Tuesday through 7 a.m. Wednesday. A Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect for Salem, Gloucester, Camden, Monmouth, Mercer, Ocean and Burlington counties for the same time period.

Much of South Jersey could see 4 to 6 inches of snow, with 2 to 5 inches in Central Jersey and up north, a dusting up to 2 inches. However, there is always the possibility of locally higher amounts especially in South Jersey, where the snowfall rates could become heavy at times, the National Weather Service said.

And as of Tuesday afternoon, school districts have begun announcing the cancellation of after school activities and delayed openings for Wednesday.

A second storm coming Wednesday evening could dump another 1 to 2 inches of snow; however, this will be primarily focused on North Jersey as opposed to Tuesday's storm.

This snow will change to a wintry mix or freezing rain, which could result in ice accretion and will make for a messy Wednesday evening commute. Further south things will be just plain rain.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of snow after 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night: Snow, mainly before 4 a.m. Low around 27. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Wednesday: A slight chance of snow before 7 a.m., then a chance of snow after 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. East wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Wednesday Night: Snow before 10 p.m., then freezing rain and sleet between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., then rain after 1 a.m. Low around 31. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. East wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Thursday: A 50 percent chance of rain before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. Northeast wind 6 to 11 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 35.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Saturday: Rain likely after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Central Jersey

Tuesday: A chance of snow, mainly after 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 36. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Snow, mainly before 3 a.m. Low around 28. Light and variable wind becoming northeast 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Wednesday: A chance of snow before 10 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 37. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 7 p.m., then rain. Low around 32. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday: A chance of rain before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 37.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Saturday: Rain likely after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

South Jersey

Tuesday: Snow likely, mainly after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 37. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Tonight: Snow, mainly before 3 a.m. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 29. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Wednesday: A chance of snow before 10 a.m., then a chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Rain. Low around 35. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of rain before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 39.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Saturday: Rain likely after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.