Winter Storm, Arctic Blast Arrives In NJ: See Timeline

NEW JERSEY - Garden State residents are on track to see a rollercoaster of February weather this week, ranging from a late-week winter storm to a weekend arctic chill to a spring-like warmup.

Thursday will start on a high note with partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-40s, according to the National Weather Service. A rain storm slated to bring 1 to 1.5 inches of precipitation to the state will move into the region Thursday evening and is set to linger into Friday.

A quick snapshot of your Thursday shows us it'll be mild, but cloudy in the afternoon with a 20-30% chance of rain late afternoon and into the evening hours. A better chance for rain arrives overnight into Friday morning. pic.twitter.com/PrGd36myDe
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) February 22, 2024

In areas around I-95 from Philadelphia to New York City, the storm is expected to slow travel conditions (including air travel) and create hazards from slick conditions to poor visibility and possible fog, per AccuWeather.

Just as the rain storm tapers off Friday evening, temperatures are slated to plummet to the low 30s and high 20s in some regions, according to AccuWeather. Saturday will see mostly sunny skies with highs in the 40s, dipping back into the low 20s overnight; the melting snow from last week’s storm and new rain accumulation may freeze over, prompting slippery conditions.

"There could be issues with groundwater freezing and creating slick spots over the weekend," AccuWeather Meteorologist Joseph Bauer said.

Sunday will similarly see dry skies with 40-degree highs and lows hovering around freezing, according to the National Weather Service.

Another upswing is on the horizon starting Monday, with sunny skies and highs pushing 60 degrees in the forecast. Lows are only predicted to be in the 40s, forecasters said. The good news: the warmup is expected to last for at least until mid-week.

“What we have higher confidence in is the warming trend continuing, with a stretch of above normal temperatures through at least Wednesday,” the National Weather Service said.

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

North Jersey

Thursday: A 40 percent chance of rain after 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. South wind 3 to 6 mph.

Thursday Night: Rain likely, mainly after 7 p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 36. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain, mainly before 1 p.m. High near 49. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Northwest wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 34. Northwest wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 18.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 42.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Central Jersey

Thursday: A slight chance of rain after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday NIght: Rain likely, mainly after 1 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 40. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain likely, mainly before 1 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 49. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Northwest wind around 10 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

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

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 42.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.

South Jersey

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 47. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: A chance of rain after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain, mainly before 1 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 4 p.m. High near 53. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 20.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 43.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.