Dangerous Snow Squalls Forecast Sunday In New Jersey

MOUNT HOLLY, NJ — Snow squalls were in the forecast Sunday afternoon in New Jersey.

An Arctic cold front accompanied by an abrupt wind shift and increase in wind speeds as well as possible snow showers and squalls was expected to start around noon in the area of Trenton, Flemington and Morristown before moving southeast toward Long Branch, Toms River and Atlantic City, authorities said.

The squalls were particularly likely north and west of the Interstate 95 corridor, according to the National Weather Service at Mount Holly. The front was expected to reach the coast between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

A snow squall warning was issued until 2 p.m. for the central area of the state, including I-95 and U.S. Route 9, between Keansburg and Highlands to the north and Bay Head, Shrewsbury and Francis Mills to the south, according to the service. Sussex and Warren counties were under a squall warning until 1:30 p.m., NJ.com reported, but it was canceled around 12:55 p.m. A warning for areas of Somerset, Morris, Monmouth, Middlesex, Mercer and Hunterdon counties expired at 12:45 p.m., according to the outlet.

“If a Snow Squall Warning is issued for your area, delay travel,” the service said in a social media post. “If you're driving, find a place to pull safely off of the road.”

The short but intense snowfall bursts can quickly reduce visibility and create whiteout conditions when accompanied by gusty winds, sometimes causing roads to become icy in minutes and leading to chain-reaction crashes, according to a graphic posted by the weather service.

“There is no safe place on a highway during a snow squall event,” the graphic said. “Consider an alternate route or delaying travel, reduce speed and turn on headlights.”

A wind advisory in effect until 5 p.m. spanned the northern coast, including Toms River and Long Branch, as well as the central and western areas of the state and into Pennsylvania, according to the weather service.

"Wind gusts of 40-50 mph are forecast for the advisory area along with potential for some tree damage and isolated power outages," the service posted on social media.

Low temperatures overnight Sunday into Monday in New Jersey were forecast to be in the low 20s and high teens before rising to highs around freezing Monday.