Up To 8 Inches Of Snow Expected In NJ During Thursday Storm

NEW JERSEY - Snow total estimates for the Garden State on Thursday have increased, with up to eight inches in the forecast for parts of New Jersey.

A winter storm watch has been issued for Sussex, Warren, Bergen and Passaic counties, per the National Weather Service. The watch is in effect between 7 p.m. Thursday until 6 p.m. Friday. Forecasters warn that icy road conditions on Friday morning may cause issues for the entire state.

Heavy snow and sleet is expected along and north of I-78 and northwestern New Jersey, with amounts of at least 4 to 6 inches.

“Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning and evening commutes,” the weather agency said.

Localized power outages and tree damage is also possible due to ice accumulation, especially in Sussex and Warren counties, the National Weather Service said. Both counties could see ice accumulations of up to two tenths of an inch.

According to the weather service’s latest forecast discussion, snow will become freezing rain Thursday into Friday morning.

Central Jersey and the Jersey Shore should see less than an inch of snow, forecasters say, with a wintry mix of sleet and light snow becoming rain by Friday morning. Up to two tenths of an inch of ice accumulation is expected in much of central New Jersey as well.

Here’s the latest forecast:

North Jersey:

Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1 p.m. Cloudy early, then gradual clearing, with a high near 68. West wind 9 to 14 mph.

Wednesday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 28. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. Wind chill values between 25 and 35. North wind 3 to 6 mph.

Thursday Night: Snow, mainly after 1 a.m. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 29. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Light east wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent.

Friday: Snow, freezing rain, and sleet before 1 p.m., then a chance of rain between 1pm and 5 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow after 5 p.m. The sleet could be heavy at times. High near 34. East wind 6 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Friday Night: A chance of snow and freezing rain before 7 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

South Jersey:

Wednesday: Isolated showers between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cloudy early, then gradual clearing, with a high near 70. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 31. North wind 5 to 15 mph.

Thursday: A slight chance of rain and snow before 3 p.m., then a slight chance of rain, snow, and sleet between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. then a slight chance of rain after 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. North wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday Night: Rain and sleet likely before 9 p.m., then freezing rain between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., then rain after 3 a.m. Low around 32. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent.

Friday: Rain, mainly before 1 p.m. High near 44. East wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

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