Freezing Rain, Icy Forecast Prompts Weather Alerts For 4 NJ Counties

NEW JERSEY - Winter weather advisories in four New Jersey counties have been issued ahead of a storm set to bring freezing rain and an icy, hazardous aftermath for motorists in the Garden State.

The storm system will move west to east into the state Tuesday, bringing rain to the westernmost counties starting around 9 a.m. Though temperatures are forecast to be in the high 30s to 40s, North Jersey will still be at risk of freezing rain Tuesday afternoon.

“A separate area of light precipitation will move across the entire area from the south late tonight,” according to the National Weather Service. “Temperatures could be cold rough for spotty freezing rain as far south as the Philly suburbs.”

While Old Man Winter has likely released his grip on most of the region through the rest of the week, light icing is expected near the I-80 corridor today into Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/FcC70do4VN
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) January 23, 2024

As of 10 a.m., four New Jersey counties are currently under a winter weather advisory, the weather agency said. Those counties are: Morris, Sussex, Passaic and Bergen counties.

No flooding watches or advisories have been issued by the National Weather Service as of Tuesday morning, which lines up with Weather Underground’s forecast of half an inch or less of rainfall accumulation per day from Wednesday to Sunday.

AccuWeather meteorologists note the greatest concern for the week will be for travelers in the Northeast, with any moisture from fog or rain capable of causing sheets of clear ice to develop.

“The icy mixture can result in slippery roads and sidewalks, travel disruptions and power outages across the region,” AccuWeather meteorologists wrote.

Fog can also read to ground stops, flight delays and cancellations in major airports throughout the region, AccuWeather added.

Garden State residents can expect warmer temperatures in the 40s and 50s, respectively, on Wednesday and Thursday, alongside more rain. The precipitation should taper off by Friday morning, forecasters said, just in time for high temperatures approaching 60 degrees.

Here’s the latest forecast, according to the National Weather Service:

North Jersey

Tuesday: A chance of rain before 1 p.m., then a chance of rain or freezing rain between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., then a slight chance of rain after 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tuesday Night: Rain, snow and sleet likely, possibly mixed with freezing rain before 1 a.m., then snow and freezing rain likely, possibly mixed with sleet between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., then a slight chance of rain, snow, and sleet after 4 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 32. Light east wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday: A slight chance of rain and snow before 7 a.m., then a chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 38. Light southeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Wednesday Night: Rain likely, mainly after 1 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 36. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Rain. High near 48. Light southwest wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Rain. Low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Central Jersey

Tuesday: Cloudy, with a high near 42. West wind around 5 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night: Occasional light rain, mainly after 4 a.m. Low around 33. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Occasional light rain before 1 p.m., then rain likely after 1 p.m. High near 43. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Rain likely, mainly after 1 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 42. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday: Rain. High near 53. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Rain, mainly after 1 a.m. Low around 46. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

South Jersey

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. West wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night: A slight chance of freezing rain before midnight, then a chance of rain or freezing rain between midnight and 2 a.m., then a chance of rain after 2 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 31. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Occasional light rain. High near 48. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 46. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday: Rain. High near 58. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Rain, mainly after 1 a.m. Low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.