NJ Winter Storm Warnings Expanded, Timing To Impact Tuesday Commute

NEW JERSEY - Up to a foot of heavy snow, coastal flooding and fierce winds are in store for more regions of the Garden State, according to an afternoon update from the National Weather Service.

Between 8 to 12 inches of snowfall is possible in North Jersey and 1 to 3 inches are possible in Central Jersey during Tuesday's overnight storm, the National Weather Service said. Less than an inch of snow is in the forecast for South Jersey and Philadelphia, though a last-minute shift could bring more accumulation to the region.

The weather agency noted the Tuesday commute will be treacherous for motorists as about an inch of snowfall per hour is in the cards during the morning rush. As of Monday at 3 p.m., seven counties (Passaic, Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Somerset, Morris, Warren) are under a winter storm warning through Tuesday afternoon.

“If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency,” the National Weather Service said. “When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.”

⚠️❄️ Here is our latest snowfall forecast for Monday night through Tuesday. This storm is unlikely to produce significant snow unless you're well north of I-78. Plan for a slippery, wet, and slow Tuesday morning commute. Updated briefing here: https://t.co/mMnIx09PUq #PAwx #NJwx pic.twitter.com/RCpwmPc49B
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) February 11, 2024

“The Tuesday morning commute is looking *rough*, particularly I-78 & I-80 corridors, but I-95 northwest will need to be cautious,” the National Weather Service Mount Holly station added in an X post.

“Moderate” coastal flooding at the Jersey Shore may prompt road closures and property flooding, the National Weather Service said. Strong winds with gusts up to 40 to 50 mph could damage property and spark power outages.

Though the storm is set to hit New Jersey Monday night, there is still a chance the storm could shift last minute and take a southern track, AccuWeather said. That shift would mean a “heavy, plowable accumulation” of snow farther to Philadelphia and New York City.

“Snowfall can ramp up from a slushy coating to half a foot or more in a matter of a few miles along the Interstate 95 corridor from New York City, southwestward to Philadelphia," AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Sadvary said, citing the changing trajectory of the storm and the warm to cold conditions leading up to Tuesday.

As of 3:30 p.m. Monday, Mercer County is under a winter weather advisory; five counties are under a coastal flood warning (Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Cape May) and eight counties are under a coastal flood advisory (Hudson, Union, Essex, Gloucester, Camden, Burlington, Salem, Cumberland).

The storm is slated to taper off Tuesday afternoon on a high note, per AccuWeather, with any delay in the storm’s end posing “huge consequences in terms of a rapid, last-minute accumulation.”

Those celebrating Valentine’s Day on Wednesday can expect sunny skies with temperatures mainly in the high 30s, though it’s unclear how much digging out motorists will need to do.

Here’s the latest forecast, per the National Weather Service:

North Jersey

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Light west wind.

Monday Night: Rain and snow after 10 p.m., becoming all snow after 4 a.m. Low around 31. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. Light east wind becoming northeast 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Tuesday: Snow, mainly before 1 p.m. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 36. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Breezy, with a northeast wind 14 to 20 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 8 to 12 inches possible.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. West wind 8 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 31. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 21.

Central Jersey

Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Monday Night: Rain before 4 a.m., then rain and snow. Low around 34. East wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday: Snow, possibly mixing with rain after 1pm, then gradually ending. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 37. Breezy, with a northeast wind 15 to 20 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 37. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23.

South Jersey

Monday: A chance of rain, mainly after 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 49. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday Night: Rain, mainly after 9 p.m. Low around 40. East wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday: Rain, possibly mixing with snow after 1 p.m., then gradually ending. High near 41. Breezy, with a northeast wind 15 to 20 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28. West wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 41. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24.