Bitter Cold Temps Prompt Code Blue Alert Across New Jersey

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey got a harsh reminder that it is heading into winter Thursday morning, as most of the state experienced some of the coldest temperatures since early spring.

"Before you head out the door this morning, may want to take a second to look for hats, gloves, and coats as many of us are waking up to our first freeze since spring," wrote US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly (NWS).

A freeze warning was put in place for most of the state, with temperatures hovering in the 20s in most areas, the National Weather Service said.

Fourteen counties around New Jersey were issued the first Code Blue of the year.

The counties affected were Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Union, state officials said.

Code Blues are called in New Jersey when temperatures are predicted to reach 25 degrees or lower without precipitation, 32 degrees with precipitation, or when there is a wind chill factor of zero degrees.

When Code Blue is issued, each county and its towns will activate a network of warming stations, as well as shelters run by community-based organizations.

The warming stations identified include a variety of public libraries, senior centers, civic and community centers, school buildings, houses of worship, firehouses and first aid squad buildings.

Overnight accommodations are not always available at warming stations.

Shelters, on the other hand, do offer overnight accommodations. In addition, shelters that regularly require occupants to leave during the day will suspend that practice so people can stay indoors.

The weather service says this will be “the coldest air of autumn so far” in New Jersey, with Friday’s morning lows expected to dip down to the mid-to-upper 30s across much of the state.

Temperatures will begin to rise above freezing in the coming hours on a sunny but chilly day, with highs statewide at just around 50 degrees.

Here's the National Weather Service's latest forecast:

North Jersey

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 45. West wind 3 to 5 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. Light southwest wind.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 55. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 58. West wind around 5 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 58.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Central Jersey

Thursday: Widespread frost before 10 a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 51. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Night: Widespread frost. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 29. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Friday: Widespread frost before 10 a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 57. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. West wind around 5 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.

South Jersey

Thursday: Widespread frost before 11 a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 51. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Friday: Widespread frost before 8 a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 57. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. South wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. West wind around 5 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 65.