Weather
How Will 'Bomb Cyclone' Affect Essex County? Snow, Wind Gusts Expected
Essex County residents should expect rain most of Saturday and a small snow accumulation, the National Weather Service said.
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A potential mix of rain and snow that could intensify into a "bomb cyclone" on Saturday, according to forecasters, is expected to drench Essex County most of the day, leaving a small accumulation of snow.
On Saturday, temperatures will drop as wind speed increases throughout the day, with gusts as high as 38 m.p.h. in the area, the National Weather Service said.
The NWS predicts that rain will start in the area after 2 a.m. Saturday morning. It will continue until 2 or 3 p.m. Saturday, at which point it may turn to sleet and snow (see full forecast below).
Find out what's happening in Millburn-Short Hillsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Forecasters say the chance of precipitation Saturday is 100 percent.
While wind gusts could reach 38 m.p.h. Saturday night, the sleet and snow accumulation will be less than an inch.
Find out what's happening in Millburn-Short Hillsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A series of maps of potential snow totals and wind gusts can be found here.
Accuweather said that the storm could become a "bomb cyclone," a low-pressure area that undergoes rapid strengthening, most often during strong winds. READ MORE: 'Bomb Cyclone' In Forecast For North Jersey
Here is the NWS forecast for the area:
Friday Night: A chance of drizzle between midnight and 2 a.m., then rain with a chance of drizzle after 2 a.m. Low around 41. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday: Rain, snow, and sleet before 2 p.m., then snow and sleet likely between 2 p.m. and
3 p.m., then snow likely after 3 p.m. Temperature falling to around 27 by 5 p.m. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow before 7 p.m. Blustery, with a west wind 17 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph.
Get the local updated forecast here.
Got a local news tip? Email Patch here.
You can sign up for breaking news alerts here. You'll get an email asking for your preferences: https://patch.com/subscribe
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
