The National Weather Service issued a winter storm alert for 17 New Jersey counties before a storm that is expected to pour 10 to 20 centimeters of snow and hail into our region on Thursday and early Friday, along with a thick ice sheet in some areas.
The winter storm covers all of northern New Jersey, most of central New Jersey and western South Jersey. It is effective from the early morning of Thursday to Friday afternoon, with the exact times varying from region to region.
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While a watch is not as urgent as a warning, it puts residents and public officials on the alert that there is potential for a dangerous winter to come. If meteorologists remain confident that the storm will cause heavy snow, heavy hail or significant freezing rain, the watch will likely be updated to a warning before the storm arrives – the last in our long February storm parade.
The National Weather Service is forecasting 15 to 20 centimeters of snow in parts of New Jersey and at least a few centimeters across the state on Thursday. Here is the latest forecast on the types of weather and precipitation.
The storm could be a “clutter party,” said analyst Nick Carr. “What we can see is a few inches of snow in the front and then a few inches of hail.”
Active storm alerts
Here’s a look at the winter storm alerts in each county on Tuesday afternoon:
Bergen County: Effective winter storm surveillance from 6 am on Thursday to 6 am on Friday. Meteorologists expect 10 to 20 centimeters of snow in this area.
Burlington County: Effective winter storm surveillance from 4:00 am on Thursday to 1:00 pm on Friday. Meteorologists are expecting 7 to 15 inches of snow and hail in the northwest region of the county, as well as a layer of ice that ranges from a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch.
Camden County: Effective winter storm surveillance from 4:00 am on Thursday to 1:00 pm on Friday. Meteorologists are expecting 7 to 15 centimeters of snow and hail in this area, as well as a layer of ice that ranges from a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch.
Essex County: Effective winter storm surveillance from 6 am on Thursday to 6 am on Friday. Meteorologists expect 10 to 20 centimeters of snow in this area.
Gloucester County: Effective winter storm surveillance from 4 am on Thursday to 1 pm on Friday. Meteorologists are expecting 7 to 15 centimeters of snow and hail in this area, as well as a layer of ice that ranges from a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch.
Hudson County: Winter storm surveillance in effect from 6 am on Thursday to 6 am on Friday. Meteorologists expect 10 to 20 centimeters of snow in this area.
Hunterdon County: Effective winter storm surveillance from 4:00 am on Thursday to 1:00 pm on Friday. Meteorologists expect 5 to 8 inches of snow and hail in the northwest region of the county.
Mercer County: Effective winter storm surveillance from 4:00 am on Thursday to 1:00 pm on Friday. Meteorologists are expecting 7 to 15 centimeters of snow and hail in this area, as well as a layer of ice that ranges from a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch.
Middlesex County: Effective winter storm surveillance from 4:00 am on Thursday to 1:00 pm on Friday. Meteorologists are expecting 7 to 15 centimeters of snow and hail in this area, as well as a layer of ice that ranges from a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch.
Monmouth County: Effective winter storm surveillance from 4:00 am on Thursday to 1:00 pm on Friday. Meteorologists are expecting 7 to 15 centimeters of snow and hail in the western region of the county, as well as a layer of ice that ranges from a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch.
Morris County: Effective winter storm surveillance from 4:00 am on Thursday to 1:00 pm on Friday. Meteorologists expect 5 to 8 inches of snow and hail in the northwest region of the county.
Passaic County: Effective winter storm surveillance from 6 am on Thursday to 6 am on Friday. Meteorologists expect 10 to 20 centimeters of snow in this area.
County Salem: Effective winter storm surveillance from 4:00 am on Thursday to 1:00 pm on Friday. Meteorologists are expecting 7 to 15 centimeters of snow in this area, as well as a layer of ice that ranges from a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch.
Somerset County: Effective winter storm surveillance from 4 am on Thursday to 1 pm on Friday. Meteorologists expect 5 to 8 inches of snow and hail in the northwest region of the county.
Sussex County: Effective winter storm surveillance from 4 am on Thursday to 1 pm on Friday. Meteorologists expect 5 to 8 inches of snow and hail in the northwest region of the county.
Union County: Effective winter storm surveillance from 6 am on Thursday to 6 am on Friday. Meteorologists expect 10 to 20 centimeters of snow in this area.
Warren County: Effective winter storm surveillance from 4:00 am on Thursday to 1:00 pm on Friday. Meteorologists expect 5 to 8 inches of snow and hail in the northwest region of the county.
Snow forecast maps
This is the National Weather Service’s initial snow forecast for most of New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and eastern Maryland for Thursday’s winter storm.National Meteorological Service
This is the National Weather Service’s anticipated snow forecast for northeast New Jersey, New York, Long Island and Hudson Valley for Thursday’s winter storm.National Meteorological Service
Ice forecast
This is the National Weather Service’s initial ice accumulation forecast for parts of New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and eastern Maryland for Thursday’s winter storm.National Meteorological Service
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Len Melisurgo can be found at [email protected].