Winter Storm Timing, Snow Totals, Travel Impacts In NJ: See Forecast

NEW JERSEY - Forecasters are urging travelers to delay plans Saturday morning ahead of a fierce storm set to drop several inches of snow on parts of the Garden State.

Between 3 to 4 inches of snow are forecast in and south of Mercer and Middlesex counties, according to the National Weather Service. Between 2 to 3 inches are forecast for North Jersey.

“Snowfall will begin late tonight through early Saturday morning before ending around 7-10am Saturday,” the National Weather Service Mount Holly station said in a Friday afternoon statement. “Anyone traveling overnight through Saturday morning should exercise extreme caution and consider delaying travel. Snowfall rates could reach 0.5 to 1.0 inch per hour at times!”

Snowfall will most likely begin falling about 10 p.m. in Pennsylvania before it reaches the eastern half of the Garden State by midnight and the Jersey Shore by 1 a.m. Saturday. The steady snowfall is set to end Saturday morning, but some snow showers may linger into the afternoon, per the weather service.

As of 1:30 p.m., 15 New Jersey counties are under a winter weather advisory from 10 p.m. Friday until 10 a.m. Saturday. Those counties are:

• Warren
• Hunterdon
• Somerset
• Middlesex
• Union
• Monmouth
• Mercer
• Ocean
• Salem
• Gloucester
• Camden
• Burlington
• Cumberland
• Atlantic
• Cape May

“Slow down and use caution while traveling,” the National Weather Service said in a statement. “Check local Department of Transportation information services for the latest road conditions.”

AccuWeather meteorologists note that, though the quick-hitter won't produce prolific snowfall, it can still cause travel disruptions into the weekend. Philadelphia and Atlantic City are slated for 1 to 3 inches of snow during Friday's storm; a small accumulation of snow may reach as far north as New York City, though storm developments can still alter the path and strength of the impacts on the Garden State.

The snowfall is set to wrap by Saturday morning, paving the way for a cold and dry Saturday night with temperatures in the 30s, the weather service said. The new snow will begin to melt Saturday afternoon and may freeze overnight, prompting possible icy patches for Garden State residents traveling Sunday morning.

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

North Jersey

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Breezy, with a northwest wind 16 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.

Friday Night: A slight chance of light snow between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., then snow likely after 1 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 20. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Saturday: A chance of light snow before noon, then a slight chance of snow showers between noon and 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 15. Northwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 35. Southwest wind 8 to 15 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 40.

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

Central Jersey

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 42. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Friday Night: Snow, mainly after 2 a.m. Low around 28. West wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Saturday: Snow before 7 a.m., then snow showers likely, mainly between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. High near 38. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 43.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.

South Jersey

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Friday Night: Snow, mainly after 1 a.m. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 30. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Saturday: Snow showers likely, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 46.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.