Snow Threat Increases, Winter Weather Advisories Issued As 2 Storms Head To NJ

Winter Weather Advisories have been issued in New Jersey ahead of two storms this weekend.

There are two chances for snow. The first is early Saturday, with the only accumulation being near and northwest of I-95, with highest totals near and north of I-78, according to the National Weather Service. It starts in the pre-dawn hours and will transition to rain gradually.

Advisories will be in effect from 1 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in Sussex, Warren, Morris and western Passaic counties, with 2 to 4 inches of snow possible.

Sunday's snow will focus on coastal areas, according to the National Weather Service. However, it will not be a major storm.

"The bottom line remains that the threat for a significant snow event remains low at this time," National Weather Service forecasters said Friday. "The synoptic pattern and associated surface pattern just do not quite match up well for a big snow event."

Currently, a half-inch to 1.5 inches of snow is forecast for the Jersey Shore with a coating to 1 inch up to the I-95 corridor. Everywhere else could see flurries but no accumulation.

This will also set up especially cold conditions due to an active polar vortex.

"Over the next couple of weeks, the jet stream will develop a large buckle with a northward bulge along the Pacific Coast and a southward dip centered on the Great Lakes," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. "This setup stretches the polar vortex, sending persistent warmth near the bulge and repeated shots of cold air through the dip."

Temperatures will moderate to near normal by next Thursday.