Snowfall Timing Shifts In NJ: See Latest Estimates

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey's Thursday morning commute saw rain and snow, with many school districts delaying openings or even opting to close. Minimal snow has accumulated in the Garden State as of 9 a.m. Thursday, but that could change throughout the day.

Parts of New Jersey could see up to 3 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. The rain changed to snow throughout most of the state. The northeast portion of New Jersey should see the shift to snow by 10 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow will taper off late Thursday morning or early in the afternoon from the northwest to southeast, according to forecasters.

South Jersey may see some snow until 3 p.m., but forecasters anticipate less than an inch accumulating.

Here are the latest snowfall predictions:

Drivers should still heed caution Thursday morning. Temperatures have dropped below freezing, which can make untreated roads quickly turn icy, the National Weather Service says.

The following school districts closed because of the weather Thursday, according to nj.com:

Bergen County

• New Milford
• Ridgefield

Essex County

• Belleville
• Bloomfield
• West Orange

Hunterdon County

• Bethlehem
• Califon
• Clinton Township
• Clinton Public School
• Franklin Township
• Hampton
• High Bridge
• Holland
• Lebanon Borough
• Lebanon Township
• North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional
• Tewksbury

Morris County

• Boonton
• Butler
• Netcong
• Mount Olive

Passaic County

• Haledon

Sussex County

• Byram
• Hardyston
• Hopatcong
• Lenape Valley
• Sparta
• Stanhope
• Vernon

Warren County

• Allamuchy
• Belvidere
• Blairstown
• Franklin
• Great Meadows Regional
• Greenwich
• Hackettstown
• Harmony
• Hope
• Knowlton
• North Warren Regional
• Oxford
• Phillipsburg
• Warren Hills Regional
• Washington Borough
• Washington Township
• White

State officials reported three crashes on major roads in the major commuting hour:

• 8:20 a.m. on I-295 southbound, south of exit 28 - NJ 168/Black Horse Pike in Bellmawr. The right shoulder is closed for caution.
• 8:26 a.m. on Routes 1&9 express lanes northbound, north of Delancey Street in Newark. One right lane is closed.
• 9:02 a.m. on I-76 westbound, east of exit 2 - I-676 in Gloucester City. One left lane is closed, causing a 5-10 minute delay.

Here's the latest forecast for North Jersey as of 9 a.m. Thursday:

• Thursday: Snow, mainly before 1 p.m. Temperature falling to around 29 by noon. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. North wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
• Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Wind chill values between zero and 5. North wind around 11 mph.
• Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 23. Wind chill values between zero and 10. North wind around 11 mph.
• Friday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11. Wind chill values between zero and 5. North wind around 10 mph.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. North wind 6 to 9 mph.
• Saturday night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 18.

Here's the latest forecast for South Jersey as of 9 a.m. Thursday:

• Thursday: Rain and snow before 1 p.m., then a chance of snow between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Temperature falling to around 29 by 5 p.m. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
• Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14. Wind chill values as low as zero. North wind around 10 mph.
• Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26. North wind around 10 mph.
• Friday night: A chance of snow, mainly after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half-inch possible.
• Saturday: A slight chance of snow before 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 30. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 15.