Winter Storm Possible In NJ After Weekend Warmup: Latest Forecast

NEW JERSEY - A wintery mix of rain, sleet and snow is possible across most of the Garden State next week following a period of spring-like temps, forecasters say.

Though it’s too early to determine the amount of rain and snowfall expected, AccuWeather forecasters expect a mix of rain and/or snow in most of the state Monday into Tuesday should the storm strengthen. Even so, the tip of South Jersey would most likely see rain and thunderstorms instead of any flurries.

"While the January thaw and break from the stormy pattern extended into early February, there is going to be a change in the pattern with a potentially impactful storm coming swinging across the Midwest and Northeastern states from Monday to Tuesday," AccuWeather Meteorologist Dean DeVore said in a statement.

If the storm develops into its “full potential,” sleet and snow accumulation could trigger travel delays into Valentine’s Day, which falls on Wednesday this year, AccuWeather said.

The National Weather Service’s more conservative model forecast there is “some chance for at least low-impact wintry weather in northwestern higher elevation sections of our region,” though prediction models are uncertain as to the extent of the impact at this point, the agency said in a forecast discussion.

The weather service predicts mainly rain near I-95 and points south and eastward, though a “period of snow” as far south as Mount Holly isn’t off the table depending on how the storm tracks.

"One thing is for sure, this storm will start a pattern that brings colder, more active weather from the Midwest to the Northeast with reinforcing shots of seasonably cold air masses with the potential for some clipper systems to bring snow events," DeVore added.

Though the 2023-24 winter season has seen far below the average snow totals so far, the ongoing El Nino climate pattern associated with coastal storms, temperature swings and snowier late winters in New Jersey may shake things up later this season, Patch previously reported. Related: NJ Snowstorms Likely Into Spring, New Forecast Says

Garden State residents will be able to enjoy spring-like temperatures before any signs of next week’s storm, with high temperatures hovering around the 50s through Sunday.

Here’s the latest forecast, per the National Weather Service:

North Jersey

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. South wind 3 to 5 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. South wind 5 to 8 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Light southwest wind.

Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. Light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 49.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Central Jersey

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday: Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 54. South wind around 10 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.

South Jersey

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. South wind around 5 mph.

Friday: Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 55. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 41. South wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: A slight chance of showers after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.