Coastal Storm Could Bring Snow To NJ Friday Night: Latest Forecast

NEW JERSEY — Almost all of New Jersey could see at least a light dusting of snow this Friday evening as an Alberta clipper nears the Atlantic coast, according to the latest forecast.

The clipper could transform into a coastal storm, which would bring wintry weather and slippery roads to the Garden State, according to AccuWeather.

"How quickly the clipper storm's energy transfers to a budding coastal storm will have a detrimental impact on the intensity, duration and amount of snow that falls from the mid-Atlantic coast and central Appalachians through New England," according to AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin.

Intermittent snow and flurries could reach the coast from the clipper alone, forecasters say. Drivers should be prepared for slippery travel.

"The other possibility is that the energy transfer occurs quickly, which will then lead to anything from a period of snow and a small accumulation to several inches of snow and significant travel disruptions," DePodwin said.

If the coastal storm strengthens fast enough and stays off the coast, "heavy snow with strong winds and blowing and drifting snow associated with a nor'easter could unfold," AccuWeather warned.

There's still uncertainty, the National Weather Service said. Those forecasters predicted between 1 to 2 inches of snow in the higher elevations of North Jersey, up to 3 inches locally, with light accumulations of up to 1 inch elsewhere in NJ.

Cold temperatures will linger in the area through the weekend.

Here's the latest forecast.

North Jersey

Wednesday: Rain after 4 p.m. Areas of fog after 4pm. High near 51. Light southeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Rain, mainly before 1 a.m. Areas of fog before 10 p.m. Low around 35. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 9 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 44. Northwest wind 8 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Light northeast wind.

Friday: A slight chance of snow showers before 10 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Friday Night: A chance of rain and snow showers before 10 p.m., then a chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 27. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of snow showers before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 33.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 14.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 25.

Central Jersey

Wednesday: Rain likely, mainly after 4 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 52. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Rain, mainly before 1 a.m. Patchy fog before 2 a.m. Low around 34. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 45. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Friday: A chance of rain after 10 a.m., mixing with snow after 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 41. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 4 a.m., then a chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 28. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 36.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 15.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 29.

South Jersey

Wednesday: A chance of rain after 2 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 53. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Rain, mainly before 4 a.m. Areas of fog before 3 a.m. Low around 35. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 47. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Friday: A chance of rain, mainly after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain likely, possibly mixed with snow before 4 a.m., then a chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 15.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 30.