New Winter Storm Threats Target NJ As Polar Vortex Returns

A shift in the polar vortex is expected to bring snow, ice, rain and frigid temperatures to New Jersey over the next few weeks, according to the latest forecast. The first episode could bring snow this weekend.

AccuWeather forecasters said that the shift will blast Arctic air across the country after snow dusts North Jersey on Tuesday. The cold air moves in Wednesday to Thursday, ushering in the coldest temperatures of the season so far.

"This Arctic air outbreak can be attributed to a displacement of the polar vortex," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. "The outbreak this week will be the first of probably three such rounds with it. Another cold blast is likely next week and a third the week after that. The waves of Arctic air will lead to significant surges in energy demands."

Nighttime temperatures could drop to the 10s and 20s, AccuWeather forecasters said. Wind chill values mean that it will feel like temperatures are in the single digits.

The chance of snow comes Friday. What happens in New Jersey depends on how the cold interacts with a storm over the southern half of the country, forecasters said.

If it forces into the Northeast, then the storm will go out to the Southeast and leave New Jersey alone.

"However, should the cold air sit back just a bit in the Northeast and let the storm strengthen as it nears the Atlantic coast, it could turn into a heavy snow accumulation from the southern Appalachians and Piedmont all the way to the interior mid-Atlantic and much of New England," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. That includes part of New Jersey.

If conditions align, there could even be accumulating snow along the I-95 corridor, forecasters said.

"A weaker storm is more likely than a major snowstorm," AccuWeather said. "Still, there is the potential for a narrow strip of light to moderate snow or a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain on the northern side, which may affect some areas from West Virginia, Virginia and northwestern North Carolina to Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and New England."

The National Weather Service said it seems that the storm will remain weak and south of New Jersey, and give only chance precipitation, mostly focused in the far southeastern corner of the state.

"These ultimately may continue to come down, but trends will be monitored in the coming days as this potential storm system gets closer in time," National Weather Service forecasters said. "The airmass in place will be cold enough that any precipitation that does fall across the area with this system would have the potential to be of the wintry variety."

Regardless, temperatures will be frigid this weekend, possibly even below freezing in North Jersey.

As we get closer to the weekend, the forecast will become clearer. Patch will share updates as they become available.