Snow, Ice Target NJ In Fast-Moving Christmas Week Storm: Latest Forecast

Snow and a glaze of ice are expected to coat parts of New Jersey this week just before Christmas, according to the latest forecast.

Snow will start falling after midnight Monday and end by early Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Most of the state will get less than 1 inch of snow, though higher elevations in the northwestern corner could see 1 to 3 inches, forecasters said.

However, "there is still a degree of uncertainty on how far south any measurable snowfall will occur into the Philly metro, southern New Jersey, and northern Delaware," National Weather Service forecasters said. A full 1 inch of snow could be "a reasonable worst case scenario" for Central Jersey, forecasters said.

Further south in the state could see a wintry mix, or snow turning to rain as it falls, but no measurable snowfall is likely.

Precipitation will remain light and nothing significant is expected, forecasters said.

"With that said, snow falling Tuesday morning could certainly cause travel issues and slippery/icy roads despite the light snowfall amounts," National Weather Service forecasters said.

After this system moves through, conditions will return to being seasonably cold and dry.

"Christmas Day should be a decent day overall with no significant weather, but a weak clipper system passing through could bring some brief light rain or sprinkles (flurries possible up north) in the morning," National Weather Service forecasters said.

Forecasters warn that after Christmas, the forecast becomes highly uncertain. A system will come through that will bring precipitation. However, forecasters don't know if it will be all rain, a significant amount of snow or anything in between. Patch will update as the forecast becomes more certain.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 38. West wind around 5 mph.

Monday Night: Snow likely, mainly after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday: Snow, possibly mixed with rain before 1 p.m., then a slight chance of snow between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., then a slight chance of rain after 4 p.m. High near 40. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Christmas Day: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41.

Thursday Night: A chance of rain after 1 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday: Rain. High near 50. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Central Jersey

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 38. West wind around 5 mph.

Monday Night: Snow likely, mainly after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday: Rain likely, possibly mixed with snow before 1 p.m., then a slight chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 42. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 44. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Christmas Day: A chance of rain before 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 43. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Thursday Night: A chance of rain after 1 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

South Jersey

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 40. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.

Monday Night: A chance of snow, mainly after 3 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 28. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tuesday: A chance of rain and snow before 10 a.m., then a chance of rain between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 45. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 36. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 47. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Christmas Day: A chance of rain before 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 46. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Thursday Night: A chance of rain after 1 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 58. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.