2 Storms Could Bring Snow As Arctic Air Returns To NJ

Two storms could bring snow to New Jersey over the weekend as Arctic air blasts the state and causes frigid conditions, according to the latest forecast.

By Friday morning, wind chills will be in the single digits, National Weather Service forecasters said. This is because the polar vortex is become active, according to AccuWeather.

"Over the next couple of weeks, the jet stream will develop a large buckle with a northward bulge along the Pacific Coast and a southward dip centered on the Great Lakes," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. "This setup stretches the polar vortex, sending persistent warmth near the bulge and repeated shots of cold air through the dip."

This could result in snow for the Garden State.

The first chance for snow is a weak system on Saturday, National Weather Service forecasters said. The northwest corner of the state could see up to a half-inch of snow, while the rest of the state won't get any. It will only be rain for those areas, according to the forecast.

"The second more organized system has more high-end potential but also could end up being nothing, depending on the track of an area of low pressure offshore Sunday into Sunday Night," National Weather Service forecasters said.

The probability for precipitation is about 35 to 45 percent along the Jersey Shore and 25 to 35 percent inland, though there remains uncertainty.

As of Thursday morning, the chance for 1 inch or more of snow along the coast is about 25 to 35 percent, while the chance of more than 3 inches is 10 percent, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters are continuing to watch for any changes.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 39. Breezy, with a west wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 20. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 25. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of rain and snow before 10 p.m., then a slight chance of rain between 10pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Sunday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18.

M.L.King Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 29.

Central Jersey

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. Breezy, with a west wind around 20 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 35. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 27. South wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: A chance of snow before 10 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., then a chance of rain after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of rain and snow between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., then a slight chance of snow after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Sunday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18.

M.L.King Day: Sunny, with a high near 31.

South Jersey

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. Breezy, with a west wind around 20 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 35. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 28. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday: A chance of rain and snow before 1 p.m., then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of rain and snow between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., then a slight chance of snow after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Sunday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16.

M.L.King Day: Sunny, with a high near 31.